I print photos a lot these days, so I need to see and compare the photos a lot. I use different gram and different surface finishes to print different photos, even same photos, then I see a lot of differences.
For low weight photo paper, I think it's better to print in rolls, cuz it's too light, when it's in small sheet size, it will warp a little bit in the edge, so when you print, the warp place wil rub the print head which can cause critical damage to the head. So it's better to reverse it and press it flat. The same problem will happen with the cast coated paper, for it has no lamination and the coating is just so so, when print cast coated paper, it will rub the print head too. And also because of the poor coating of cast coated paper, so when you print super premium birghtness photos, the ink can not be absorbed completely and instantly.
For high weight photo papers like 240/260/280gsm there is no problem at all, no matter sheet size or roll size, the printing result is perfect.
Now let's analyze different finishes and their advantages. In my point of view, I think, glossy paper is good to print color things, it's color reproduction ability is good, photos printed with glossy paper looks like the real! The condition is that the dpi of your camera is high enough. To satin finish, eventhough it's not so bright like the glossy, but it's more pure and quiet, can make people relaxed, so it's good to print family photos. For pearl finish, for it has a special pearlised treatment on the surface of base paper except the coating, so it looks more textured, I think it's better to print close shot of figures. The last finish-silky, some company also call it woven, it looks much like the cloth surface, I think it's better to print something looks more mystic and elegant like castles, wedding photos etc.
All in all, I love all the finishes of imacolor photo paper :)