Yeah, I think I would do that next time, though ATM having the studs is useful has Mr 4 still does a bunch of building with Duplo, which ofcourse doesn’t clutch tightly. Usability for a 4 year old is the key for now!
The base plates are stuck down using carpet tape, so I can get them off again fairly easily. With the new city sets having fairly stable plate bases, and new road plates tying things together I agree that leaving it smooth would probably be more useful longer term.
The best of both worlds is a baseplate with studs only every now and then (maybe ever 4-8 studs). That way things stay in place but can be easily moved about when needed. Could 3D print one maybe, or chamfer studs slightly to reduce clutch.