I agree that this new line seems to have a great deal more sense in its features however they seem to be trying to increase resonance so why do they still have die-cast hoops isn't that counter productive?
If your shell weighs less it vibrates more at higher frequencies however with both die-cast hoops and the RIMS system on there that much mass has to dampen most of the benefits. Wouldn't it make more sense to at least offer triple flanged?
Erm, yes - & no. Grouping shell resonance & head sustain as one & the same thing is a widely held misconception. It's perfectly possible to partner a highly resonant shell with high head mass afforded by the hoops, yet still get some of the benefit from a resonant shell. A resonant shell does not equal head sustain. When most players refer to resonance, they're in fact referring to head sustain. Although the sustain of a head & the resonance of a shell are linked in multiple ways, they are also very separate things.
We pay attention to correct drum suspension, not as a means of getting the heads to decay slower, but to increase the dominance of the fundamental, & allow the main note to last for longer. A longer note means more body, more punch. With most ply shells, the main note is less than 1 second duration. Increasing that to near 2 seconds provides a massive increase in presence. These Tama shells won't get there, but they will get a bit closer.
You're completely correct with your observation about total mass though. Even with the best isolation, every part of a drum, & everything connected to it, has to resonate as a whole. If those materials are of a more similar mass, & overall lower mass, they will do so more effectively, because they are easier to excite.
You can spot a very resonant drum by how easily it opens up to a full tone with light input, not by how long it takes for the heads to decay.