Alright people, I have a few more questions but I think it's better to put them here rather than open a new thread.

1) As I said above, would it be better to connect via IAD and fly on United originating in BDL (Hartford), or to connect in PHL? Which is more prone to ATC or congestion delays? Which is more prone to weather delays in July?

2) If you think IAD is better, I am being offered shorter connection times...
example, 90 minutes between the landing time of the flight from BDL to the flight to CDG, and 2.5 hours on the return trip from CDG connecting back to BDL. This is as I said, all on United metal. There is also a 5.5 hr connection option for the BDL->IAD->CDG segments, but only the 2.5 hr one for the return trip. Is this enough in IAD? Or should I be looking back at the PHL flights to BDL or HVN?

United
Flight 1199 Departs: 2:27p
Bradley Intl (BDL) Arrives: 3:57p
Dulles Intl (IAD)
Coach | Aircraft: Boeing 737-500 | 1h 30m
[ Layover in Washington, DC (IAD) for 1h 32m ]
Lufthansa
Flight 9377
Operated by United Departs: 5:29p
Dulles Intl (IAD) Arrives: 6:55a
Ch. De Gaulle (CDG)
Coach | Aircraft: Boeing 777 | 7h 26m

Return – Sat 19 Jul 2008
Lufthansa
Flight 9376
Operated by United Departs: 12:25p
Ch. De Gaulle (CDG) Arrives: 2:49p
Dulles Intl (IAD)
Coach | Aircraft: Boeing 777 | 8h 24m
[ Layover in Washington, DC (IAD) for 2h 36m ]
United
Flight 312 Departs: 5:25p
Dulles Intl (IAD) Arrives: 6:54p
Bradley Intl (BDL)
Coach | Aircraft: 735 | 1h 29m