I did want to do new rubbers but on the LCR they are silly expensive as they are the mounts and rubbers in one. At the same time having done 67k and 5 years old they all looked very good and tight a credit to VAG unlike there exhaust hangers which rotted away!
I know what you mean with the paste but thats the whole point you get a nice tight seal that will limit twisting force which clamps dont always do.