MD vs Bell: which to choose?
Neither. Too many bad reasons to list for the MD. The Bell is old, old, old design for the sitting layout. And it has a broom cupboard - lousy for tourism work. At a glance only, it is a beefed up LR4 with 4 blades. Bell can't design anything that looks like a JR or Huey. If they do, it won't be wildly successful unless the uniforms buy it.
A conservative approach is an AS350 with a Honeywell engine ie SuperD1/2. Put in a Gemini seat and it will hold 7POB. One cabin, big, roomy, power galore, very few calendar bits to worry about. No lethargic or rude responses from Turbomecca, etc. Go for the 350.