I was also at HAI.
The front of the 429 is impressive enough ... anyone with a history of Bell to hand will probably find its profile under the section marked Bell 400 [the ringtail and predessesor to the TwinStar] which suggests that as the 400 flew a great deal of structural work was done back then... but that tail end ...... Death would be quick if you blundered that way... and many others [potential customers] could be seen pointing at a messy rear end layout .... Centre of the t/r boss is at 6 feet which should make your eyes water only very briefly....
The ringtail is dead, the Bellestron is dead and now Bell's answer to not copying the others on how to stop helicopters spinning uncontrallably is said to be a new Hot-notar blower system [but not yet] ... if copying the systems that work is such a worry why use the tail rotor?