I suspect it may matter to folks living in anally retentive nanny states with illogical overly restrictive laws…
But not for much longer…
cant see what 
Exactly
The OP lives in Texas.
If illogical laws require a permanently attached muzzle device, from a LE forensic standpoint, it is pretty simple–either the flash hider comes off or not when using an armorers tool/wrench…
Boy, I’d be pissed if some Monkey Wrencher wanted to start cranking on my weapon. :mad:
First, I do own an AR SBR and two FA AR RRs. I also agree that the barrel length law is not logical. However, I would not SBR a rifle just to go from a 16" barrel to a 14.5 inch barrel, nor would I “permanently” install a muzzle device on a 14.5 inch barrel just to a 16 inch overall barrel length. I just use 16" barrels. I do not even own a 14.5 inch barrel for any of my RR either SBR or FA.
The only way it makes sense for me is if the law where I lived required a permanently attached muzzle device, even on a 16" barrel. Then I might go with a 14.5" barrel.
Great thing about our country, to each his own. There are many out there who disagree with my opinion. There has to be or there would not be such a market for 14.5 inch barrels.
If you apply enough force you can shear the pin off…depends on what type of metal it is though. Id think a hardened tool steel pin would hold up a lot better what what some people use like soft wire.
Im sure if the ATF wanted to convict someone bad enough they’d just snap whatever was in there, and say it wasn’t perm attached.
Cmon he said with an armorers tool or a wrench.
If you can snap the pin with an armorers tool or a wrench then it isn’t permanently attached…
Hell I’ve seen factory non-perm guns where you couldn’t get it off with a wrench.
I am a weldor and toolmaker. If someone wants a pin & weld or silver solder job to be invisible, I can make it that way. You’ll never know it’s there. Much of the work I do is specifically so that it’s impossible to tell the repair (or a mistake) had been made.
Now, as to why it’s important to really ‘hide’ it, I don’t know. I’ve seen some poorly done blob-gobs of weld on amateur pin jobs and they don’t look pretty. Guess if you’re paying a gunsmith, then you should get gunsmith quality work. As far as being able to convince law enforcement that your f/h is really welded on; that’s something I simply wouldn’t ever worry about. If you actually get to that point - then you likely have other larger issues to worry about.
That’s probably the best answer I’ve read so far.
I am in the process of setting up my NFA trust, thanks. The upper in question is already pinned and welded (purchased it that way), and I was just curious about the consequences of a hidden weld. Apologies for littering the forum with “stupid things” and “dumb stuff.” I now realize that my original post may not have been all that clear.