To be honest, it just doesn't matter if you're using it on a regulated device. You're already protected. Build too low, build too high, hell even a dead short and your device just won't fire. You're perfectly fine using you're device to check the readings if its regulated. If you plan on using a build on a mech, then yeah a good ohm reader is the way to go.
As far as contact vs. non contact, with kanthal it just doesn't much matter either. Once the coils have been pulsed a few times the final resistances settle out to be the same. With nickel if you're doing TC builds, I just haven't bothered with contact coils, I've found it to be too much of a hassle.