Elkins45 said was I had intended to come to this thread to say.
IN GENERAL I prefer older S&Ws, and my 4" model 19-3(P&R) is one of my favorite all around 357 Mags of the quite a few I've owned(I've had a pile of S&Ws and a few Colts, and the only one I might have liked better was my Trooper 357). The big N frames shoot softer and more accurately, but I don't like carrying them, while a 4" K-frame is just perfect.
With that said, the older 357 Magnum K-frames are notorious for forcing cone erosion and cracking with full power 357 Magnums, and especially with 125gr bullets. All of the older K-framed with a .357 bore(whether chambered in 38 Special or 357 Magnum) have a thinner "flat" at the bottom of the forcing cone to allow the crane to clear it. The problems usually occur there, and I've heard two theories as to the cause of this. One is that higher velocity 357s, especially 125grs(which, all else equal, are faster than 158s) just beat the cone up more, and the other theory is that the physically shorter 125gr bullets tend to cause more gas cutting.
The barrel design on the recently re-released ones has eliminated the issues. Also, the tensioned barrel is not without precedent-Dan Wesson used it, and although their revolvers were ugly they were both strong and accurate(I had both a 2" fixed barrel and a 4-6-8" set in 357 Mag at one point). I haven't shot one of the new ones, but have fondled them in the gun stores. Even if they quite feel like an old forged action, pinned and recessed gun, they are still nice.