neck tie dress questions

[penguinstalker.livejournal.com]

Im considering making a dress like
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=28983.0
(only i think i'll attempt to make it a halter neck)
Any hoo the question is to all those who've made tie dresses and skirts is:
do you slice the seams or just sew em as is? cos ive heard/read of it being done both ways
does it make much of a difference (aside from basically doubling the width and thus requiring less ties)
with them being split and therefore wider, do they lose their neck-tie ness look?
also is it hard to remove the pressed folds?
thanks guys!