I couldnt honestly say that high reps on deads are better or worse as I have never really done them in a dedicated way over time to measure. However big weight low rep has increased my mass and widened my back significantly, comparative to the point I started out from years back. New thinking seems to be that partial deads are where it's at when combined with big amounts of rowing movements, but i just love to deadlift so will never go full partial!

Ive maxed out on high reps in the past beyond the point where my form broke down and paid the price for that. Since that time, and for the past ~9 years I have always repped consistently in the region of the 4-8 range, never beyond 8. In fact usually 4-6. This has always been good enough to add mass.

My personal preference is to warm up on wide grip pullups, then 2 or 3 warms up sets of deads, then 3 or 4 heavies of a consistent and same weight for all sets. I do that to measure progress effectively. 3 if I have just stepped up in weight and 4 if I have been a few weeks in and upped the reps.
Once I hit the comfy 3/4 setsx8reps I will go up in weight.
I also learned the hard way, that taking a break from deads is actually pretty important. even 1-2 weeks is good for recovery and your strength can in fact increase during the time off.

My logic is based on:
1. Never sacrifice on form in deads.... EVER. back problems are literally crippling and you do not want that. In many cases back problems are for life.
2. Form always breaks down at a point
3. Check your ego, especially when on cycle. that doesnt mean dont go heavy, just think critically about what you are doing. you upped your weight, great, focus on form and dont go past the break down point at all.
4. Always warm up before deads... a serious warm up.
5. Taking a break from deads is essential for recovery. This is a hardcore exercise, and must be treated accordingly.

As Gorillafit pointed out, your ass will develop significantly too! So try not to carry too much body fat or you will end up looking like a duck!

heavy heavy reps within the 3-5 range. with two 1RM. Take 5 minutes between 1RM

Careful what you wish for! The deadlift run I just did added mass, most noticeably to my medial Glutes (traps and hams also) but big lumps of muscle on my Glutes I didn't even know were there. I was looking for 1rm also though so I would pyramid: 135x12, 225x8, 315x4-6, then depends on where I was, add 50-70 hit 1-3, up to max, then back down but higher reps on the mid weights coming back down. So far at 475 1rm. Was using straps for 315 and up, now 405 and up!

Pyramids imo. Start out high reps...build up weight to where 10 is hard. Strip off plates to reverse pyramids. Wrist wraps help a lot.