Responding as the person who started this little diversion... my original Hildesheim post was just meant as a passing comment, like so many other passing comments that people post here. You're quite right, it doesn't make a lot of difference to the average tourist - and I even acknowledged this in my post by saying "It all looks quite nice". (As Kathrin's subsequent post shows it does make a difference to those with an interest in architecture and/or art history)

I never intended to do more than pass on a snippet of information that I had picked up from the Hildesheim branch of my family, and I'm surprised we are still discussing it.