spark plug heat range

You want the hottest plug you can tolerate without detonation or melting of the tip. It will keep the plugs cleaner and less likely to foul. There is absolutely no advantage to a cold plug if a hotter one works.

Most folks should be running stock or a step or two colder, certainly not "WAY colder".

Agreed. I have a set of heads sitting the garage that are blacker than hell because of running too cold on a slightly richer tune.

Stock plugs are fine unless you're doing something like nitrous, or it's the middle of summer. Any other time, the stock plugs are fine from my experience. Every egine is different, but the principle is the same.