Balancer slides in on install

the fitment method will take into account the harmonic frequencies that are being damped,across the rpm range between idle and redline.
they usually try to push the primary harmonic above readline with the mass of the damper and cater for secondary and tertiary harmonics in the operating range with the ring and rubber bonding.

those harmonics vary dramatically between the poorly balanced 4 cylinder (some of them need balance shafts as well) the nicely balanced 6 cylinder and the offbeat rumbling of a standard US V8.

i.e some work was done to establish the maximum damping achievable with the smallest mass at the smallest radius from crank centre with the available rubberised bonding material at the time. or indeed in some cases how much dense fluid can be contained in a sensibly sized outer ring.

The coupling between the damper and the crank can vary the effectiveness of the damper at different frequencies.

in some cases press fit will be a concern, i.e a decision was made that it should be press fit, and in others the frequencies dictate that a bolted on damper does the job perfectly well.

i think big block pontiac engines have 3 inch mains , thats one big fat crank in a big engine maybe the harmonics are small, maybe the crank and its interaction with all other connected parts has little vibration? dunno. either way they chose it to be slip on with bolt, it wasn't an accident. maybe that crank doesn't "buzz" like other cranks at a specific frequency so the damper in this case is potentially more about weight to counteract what is at the other end of the crank

i.e avoidance of the slowing down "spinning top" scenario that waggles the end you use to spin it, as the flywheel at the other ends slows.
saves main bearing cap no.1 from getting battered and stretched.
a crank that twists and flexes with each cylinder that fires may well vibrate in a different way, which may well dictate a different style of mounting i.e press fit

having a damper is better than not having one
having a damper mounted as intended is going to do the best job of damping

Dave