For most of these types of trees, soft needles usually goes with soft/weak branches. Not sure how universal that is, but seemed to hold for most marketed types.

For most of these types of trees, soft needles usually goes with soft/weak branches. Not sure how universal that is, but seemed to hold for most marketed types. I remember one type that solved that "problem" and others, but the trade off was it absolutely stunk. But only to some people. There always seemed to be a major compromise in traits.