Any diff in tubes?

[Batbike]

Is there any real difference in different brands of tubes?

Here's what little I know about tubes:

There are thorn resistant, light weight tubes and "normal weight tubes", with the thorn resistent being VERY heavy and the light weight being thinner rubber for less weight. Thorn resistant is great if you worry about flats and don't care about weight; light weight tubes are great for reducing rotational weight, thus climbing better, but are not as durable as thorn or "normal weight" (pvc?) tubes.

Now, as for brands -- some brands are ACTUALLY better because of how the stem is put into tube. This is especially true with light weight tubes and longer stems -- a combo of thinner rubber and more stem flex, causing more tears at stem and flattening tubes. Specialized tubes swear they have "fixed" this problem, but I have not tried the tubes, yet, sounds like it would be worth trying. Personally, I have found Michelin, Kendra, and Continental tubes good at stem strength. Also, I have changed from light weight to normal weight because of the stem flex issue (I have yet to figure-out how NOT to flatten a tube at stem, no matter what I use, after many times of inflating).

After writing this, makes me wonder, do others have stem tear issues on their tubes? Is there really a tube that prevents this? Is the Specialized as good as they say?

Sorry, doesn't sound like I have helped. May have just created more problems for myself!