Much better with studs. On fine threads you get much better clamping pressure per degree of rotation since the inclined plane is less steep.
I like Yamabond on the stud-to-head threads. It's non-hardening, doesn't care about petro, gooey as hell and flat out works. I've had 0% of issues using that on studs (and pipe threads). That being said, i still drop a seal tab or two in every engine I build with studs and/or MLS gaskets.
On the torque, hand tight means 'hand tight', not 'hex wrench in your hand' tight'
Yes, the studs can and will turn while torquing (hence the reason for non-hardening sealing jizz). If our goo gets dry and you crack it loose,.... well, it's cracked loose.
With the specs on the sequence, make your first hit about 40 or 50% of the final torque (as long as you're heads aren't torqued to 500 lb/#s) then go from there. If you use moly based lube on the washers, nuts and studs, roll the engine and blast as much of the extra off onto the floor. Moly molecules are large enough to get trapped in a filter and the last thing you want on a new start up is to clog a filter and fully open the bypass.
When tightening, start in the middle and work outwards. Just like smoothing the wrinkles out of a bed sheet.
....err,, just like smoothing the bubbles out of illegal window tint.
When doing stud on a 20bolt Buick V6 pay CLOSE attention to the outside long studs. It's been reported that some are a little short and 'torque up' without actually clamping the head. Run those nuts down by hand and make sure the washer has some drag. If not, get a couple more hardened washers to take up the slack.
Also if you shaved the hell out of your head, decked the hell out of your block, run very thing head gaskets (or a combination of the three) make sure the block's dowel pins don't hold the head up and keep you from clamping down on the gasket.
Most likely on your build that won't be an issue. If the head gets that low starting the intakes bolts will be an issue (or impossible) and throw a flag.
There's probably more stuff but i managed to get all my 'guests' out of my house early and I've been drinking