Intake gasket Help

I'm not to sure it's a personal preference to use the cork or not.
I set the intake on dry without the cork and it got apparent really quickly that there was not enough clearance for the cork.
Bolt holes were way off, so I used silicone (which I intended to do anyway)

I used the metal intake gaskets with a little red RTV arounf ALL sealing area's
Intake ports, water jaket ports and bolt holes with and aluminum eddie.
Dry as a bone and zero leaks of any kind.

But them I am the RTV master. :-)