I have one of the original 12 gal Blichmann conicals and it has been a champ. It does use what amounts to weld-less fittings. I guess it would be better to have welded sanitary fittings, but it hasn't proven necessary.
I agree with Paul that boiling sanitation isn't necessary. However after about 13 years of use, I noticed a very thin layer on the interior of the fermenter. If I really worked at it with my fingernail, I could wear through it. I then realized I needed to clean a little more thoroughly on occasion. The SST did allow me to circulate 160F PBW solution through the vessel and that took that layer right off. I have a pump and RIMS that makes heating and recirculating the solution easy.
I typically only brew 5.5 gal batches, so I'm not really effectively using the fermenter volume. I only produce yeast sediment up to about the limit of the rotating racking port. I'm sure it would be better to brew bigger batches, but its rare for me. Anyhow, it not necessary or desirable for me to drain any yeast out of the cone since that would mean that there would be beer left in the fermenter that I couldn't reach with the racking port.
I guess a smaller fermenter might be better for me. Maybe one of that SST brew buckets is in my future?