Yes,
the service dept told me to use RTV only too , and I tried that and made a mess . I'm not as skilled at laying an exact bead of RTV so I started over,( I had the shortblock upside down on the pallet in my livingroom ,,the best of situations. Plus it was "dry" and clean. As I said in a privious post recently, the oilpans on these are old tin can types and at these ages have been off and beat up by varius method---so I straighten up the pan flanges like new. Without doing this they are not nice and flat and square on the flanges. ,,,WHICH DOES make a strong case for useing STRAIGHT RTV. But I like an even and equal feel to my torqing so many little bolts...and I don't get that feel with straight RTV or trust myself that much , plus I don't want to do it twice.
I'm just not that good,,,I'll stick with this newfangled Permadry Plastic/rubber FEL PRO , with a very, very ,lite coat of Good RTV. And the plastic install "bolts" that come with it sure helps keep things in place ,good and square.
Open a box up and look at what I'm'a talkin' bout.

Just personal preferance.

Dave - the junk yard dog