Tailgate painting and spot rivits

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

A run on tailgate threads. The subject came up yesterday when I tore down the bed, and I need to settle on some things.

The painter asked me if I wanted the spot welds on the tail gate smoothed out. I believe they're above the lettering, maybe below it too. The gate isn't handy at the moment. He suggests it, and I figure it would look better too, but this project is a full restore to original or real close. So I'm looking for board opinion.

I understand the factory painted the tailgate and hardware when they're mounted to the bed. Do you recommend this method, or should they be done separately, which of course runs some risk of damage on install?

On a side note, for whatever it's worth, one of my tail light housings had Ochre inside. Perhaps the housings were mounted during some stage of factory paint.