Cut the head flanges to be separate pipes and you will never lose a gasket. Since I started doing it I never lost one ever, could even often reuse them if they were installed with antiseize to let them pop loose easily. Sometimes the head flats have to be cleaned up slightly, I used either a dremel or 4 inch disc grinder if needed, the hand grind work after the weld work there is done very haphazardly sometimes and you need to level off the flats a little better there. I never lost a gasket on my 2.3 and the header stayed on for years.
The main life issue I've found on headers is how long the collector lasts at the main weld where all four pipes join up, the center X inside rusts out the quickest since it tends to hold water in place.