iOS 6... Set it up as a new device or restore it from an iTunes backup

I have a iPhone 4S...

Is there any 'advantage' or more of a clean install, to set up as new device? or can I restore from a iTunes backup?

I'm not that worried about losing contacts or anything like that, I'll use iCloud to get that back?... Apps should sync back from iTunes right?

Bit the bullet and did new device... texts aren't that important and game saves will be lost but oh well just thought it would be better this way... if i do realize I'm missing something, can I still restore from the backup I did? or is that lost? I'm guessing the backup it just did during the setup replaces the iOS 5 backup I did? or is there an archive of backups?

Just a note... I have 0.57GB of 'other' but it's not done yet...