There is what's known as 'conditioned taste association/aversion', where if you are used to something it will impact more/less.
Replace taste with place, & I can give an (uncited) example of a heroin overdose involving a just-married couple who shot up some heroin (usual amount) somewhere other than their living room (where they usually take it). Because of this novel stimulus, their experience of the drug was totally different (story told to me by my psych lecturer).
That's an example of how we all become 'used' to the ways we do things habitually, which as you can imagine affects drug users more than most.
What's also important is the 'rate of change', how quickly the THC molecules end up in your brain (obv bongs are quicker than joints, hence the difference).
I do think there is a qualitative difference between joints & bongs though, & nearly everybody agrees. You'll actually 'come up' over the next 10-15 minutes after smoking a joint, which I'd love to hear more about if anybody wants to explain it?