As a long time macOS user[1], I've always installed on public release and I've only ever experienced issues maybe once or twice. Rare enough that I can't think of any specific issues.
[1]didn't really pay attention to version numbers before 7.6, but I guess "install on public release" didn't begin until OS X...
I'm not a macOS user, but if the situation is anything like on Windows, then luck has nothing to do with it. The updates by and large work just fine for almost everyone, but with such a widely deployed product you inevitably will still see hundreds or thousands of people that experience issues.
[1]didn't really pay attention to version numbers before 7.6, but I guess "install on public release" didn't begin until OS X...