I can answer from two perspectives -

Here in Northern New England there was a two hundred year tradition (early 17th C - the early 19th) in the building of English Tying frames with softwood species.

I would add that this local tradition even included what should be seen as a bit of an improvement. This in that no thrust is imparted to the Plates, but is redirected to the the Principal Rafters (and Common Rafters never bear on the Plates) through Common Purlins - All thrust is resolved in the Bents / Cross Frames and the Heel Joint of the Rafter / Tie connection - And resultingly the Tying Joint never sees roof thrust, (but only those tensile forces generated by cyclic wind loads and imparted through Knee Braces) - And a shrinking / shrunk Dovetail therefore never allows a constant force to be transferred to the Teazle / Jowl.

Some background (though not about structural aspects) of our long local tradition in English Tying - https://bridgewright.wordpress.com/2012/12/01/a-now-two-century-old-overnight-turn-on-a-paradigm/

Additionally I both restore historic frames and build new ones, and I have more frames standing that are ET built with White Pine (Pinus Strobus) than any other frame typology.

That said, even with thrust redirected and resolved, I choose to avoid shrinkage issues in Tying Joints by substituting Cog & Clasp Joints for Dovetails.

Best with the quest...