Stock or reduced temp thermostat?

They don't necessarily need higher temps, but they are designed to run at them. It's mostly for emissions that they like to run hotter now. You have to figure they factor thermal expansions and such into their designs though, so if you're running significantly under the expected temp then you might not be getting the best performance either.

Apparently my radiator is ridiculous and my engine can barely get hot when chugging down the road, even with a higher temp stat. I think I barely crack 180 humming down the highway, but if you get in town it'll creep up to 200 or so and the fans will kick in. I think I have my fans set around 205 or 210 (can set whatever I want in my Megasquirt), but they don't have to run for long to bring the temps back down.