Just out of curiosity,

Do any of you guys find that shell thickness has a bearing on the tuning RANGE of a drum?

Volume aside, would a thicker shell be more likely to "choke" at a higher tuning than a thinner shell?

Also, would having the mounting hardware attached to the shell have a bearing on this?

That's a very good question.  The tuning range is more a function of the bearing edge.  A wider (thicker) edge will provide more surface area for the head and thus enable the mechanical energy to propogate into the shell over a wider frequency range.  

Just to clarify, tuning range refers to the drum's ability to operate over a wider range of head tensions.  It has nothing to do with the sound of the drum, although some folks get confused about that.

One of the key parameters that affect tuning range is the quality & design of the bearing edge.  A sharp angle, such as 45 degree, will sound brighter (transmit higher freqs) than a 30 degree edge.  A round edge has the best tuning range but it will be less bright & articulate than a sharp-angled one.

The quality of the edge plays a big factor in tuning range.  This is where you might hear a difference between a "cheap" set vs a more expensive one.  An edge that has voids will not transmit the mechanical energy from the head to shell as effectively than a clean edge.  Any discontinuities between edge & head will reduce tuning range.

Paul, very informative answer. Now I understand why so many people prefer a 2 inch difference in tom sizes when buying new kits. (All my experience is with vintage toms with rounded edges.) It's rounded edges for me.