I think that you're likely to get a better aesthetic result if you cut as few fibres as possible. This means that the staple should align across the grain such that the little chisels of the staple are aligned with the grain. (I have even considered running a stone across the strip of staples before I put them in the stapler, but I really don't wish to be called mike anal!) I would expect that you are then better able to wet out the 'holes' and steam them closed therebye minimizing their impact on the surface of the wood after you have completed stripping. ( the best are closing right up and the worst about 1/2 closed) I have used 5/8" plywood forms w/ the strips undergoing fairly amazing contortions and the staples have worked in nearly all cases. I have sometimes doubled up however or resorted to stick pins thru a scrap of wood.

Basically I think it is harder to recover from broken wood fibres than split grain. In the worst case all you do is reglue the split, in the best it closes right up.

-mike