Studs make it easier to correctly position the valve cover gasket and the valve cover on the head. In my opinion, the top of the handle is a bit flimsy. They are strong enough but may hurt your fingers when you tighten them because they are so small. In my opinion, this valve cover retention style is much better than the "wing head" style because the grip is part of the retention. In my experience, the wing heads always detach from the hold down bar and get lost.