Dan said,
"Not to sound too harsh but if the best Bell can come up with after all these years is to simply plop one 2-bladed head atop another they, and their customers are in trouble."
What do you believe is the problem with designing a rotor system like this.
You'll find other manufacturers have used this idea on tail rotors of such aircraft as the Apache, the Mi-28, the Mi-35, and the EH101. Bell is also using this arrangement on the main rotors of the 427, and the 407 (OH58D). The UH1Y and AH1Z use a similiar design on the main rotor and the tail rotor.
The claimed benefits are in reduced weight, reduced manufacturing complexity, increased blade flapping angles and reduced logistical problems associated with transport of rotor hub components.
What is it that you know that these manufacturers don't know, Dan?