On handgun brass, i'll wet tumble with stainless tumbling media then go into reloading without cleaning the pockets. On my .308 precision rifle i'll clean prior to depriming, deprime then use a uniforming tool to clean & uniform the pockets prior to reloading.
Since I've gone to Stainless Steel Tumbling Media, this is a process I no longer have to endure with all of my reloading. Stainless Steel Media cleans the brass, both inside and out to new condition. No need to ever clean primer pockets again. That alone makes it well worth the expense, time, and effort.