Another fairly ignorant question. I consider that my job, by the way; my
contribution to keeping the group supplied with on-topic threads.

My recent project had so many small parts (thirty-two 9" 1x2s, for
instance) that sanding, easing edges, staining and finishing them all
was a chore. Could I have sanded and (mostly) finished the uncut stock,
then cut them to length? Or would I lose time being so careful not to
scratch up the prefinished stock?

Would your answer change if you knew I had to drill two dowel holes in
each end of all those pieces?

One curious mind wants to know.