If you don’t mind my asking, just how does the vented foot change the sound of a keyless flute? In other words, what are the advantages versus one without the foot?
Does the six-hole (sans foot) have merits that the larger footed does not have?
This is a better question for the flute makers than for me of course, but I own both types and see no specific advantage for ether. I suppose that certain designs need vents while others don’t. I have no reason to desire one over the other, as both are good flutes.
Hello
Some say the short foot is more suited to IrTrad style playing and that a short foot gives a stronger low d. However most makers alter the dimensions of the bore on flutes with a c foot in order to compensate for this. I find the short foot more asthetically pleasing and decided to order a flute from a maker who prefers this design. If weight is an issue, the shorter foot may shed a few grams or whatever. If you want 8 keys then the short foot is not for you.
David
One advantage of having a longer foot with vent holes has to do with the overall balance of the flute. Some wooden flutes with a tuning slide tend to be head-heavy without a longer vented foot. Ideally, the flute should feel balanced in the hands with the left hand thumb resting near the balance point. If anything, it seems to me that having a flute that is a little foot-heavy may be a good thing. With such a flute, when the right hand fingers are raised from the finger holes, the downward force of the longer foot will hold the embouchure hole to your lips.
You are right about that Doug. With my antiques with the short foot joint, they tend to hurt my wrist more then on a balanced 8 key flute that has the balancing point just below the L1 hole, even though the flute is heavier.
So, the foot may have more to do with balance than projection or intonation. Very interesting.
Now, I may be dreaming here, but I started turning the foot about 90 degrees to the right. I’m somewhat audibly challenged, (you know…dim lights, thick smoke and loud, LOUD music), and at times I swear I can hear myself better with the foot turned toward my right ear rather than toward the ceiling.
I prefer the long foot for balance/weight distribution reasons but also asthetics.
I seem to remember a discussion either on this board or one of the others regarding this issue. If I recall correctly someone indicated that the holes were there on the longer foot because one of the flute makers (not sure who) made a keyless flute using a keyed flute as the model thus incorporating the holes where the keys of the low C and B resided. Possibly an urban flute myth. I’ll try to see if I can dig up the previous discussion. I personally think the holes are there solely for oranmentation (not the cran, cut, & roll types) 
-Clay
I’d heard the extra holes were for those folks who play with Morris dancers and need somewhere to tie some ribbons…
Seriously though, I do think the longer foot helps balance out a lined headjoint. I had a Ralph Sweet 4 key that didn’t have a tuning slide, and it was in fine balance with the shorter foot.
Eric
From this thread
If you may want the keys added later, perhaps the vented foot would give you more options down the road.