The greater the weight, the greater the friction. Reductions in weight are accomplished through design of the thread gages. Go thread rings are most affected by friction because they are thicker by design and go gages are suppose to pass over the product threads unlike no-go gages. Some would argue the solid ring is not lapped to final size. If both meet manufacturing tolerances, they are suitable for verifying conformity.
Solids make it simpler and more durable.
This was a high volume product requiring replacement every 2 years. The company was experiencing a high incidence of galling. A 54-pound adjustable ring with four splits was used, and frequent calibration and resetting the ring against the set plug was required. Since receiving this gage, the customer has reported a reduced calibration frequency without worrying about whether it is correctly set for each shift. The problem with galling has been completely eliminated, and while it is still too early to fully evaluate total gage life, the coating is still present with only minor indications of wear.