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i paint it assembled but if there is any thing obstructing something (like a shield) i will leave it off as i find it can be harder to poses the modle if you paint it on the frames as the arms may not fit as you thought.
but it really depends on the modle

A lot depends on how good a job I want to do or how much of a hurry I'm in as well as how many hidden areas there will be. Probably 2/3 I paint assembled, 1/3 unassembled.

I buy 2/3 of my models used, so they come assembled by default. Priming black hides an awful lot of sins.

On semi-rare occasion I might snap an arm or a backpack off to access the area underneath. Usually it needs to be combined with a cock-eyed or otherwise dodgey glue job though to merit such attention.

This has translated into me more or less assembling new minis before I paint them unless it's going to be a glaring pain in the keister to get at. I guess my tolerance for cramming a brush into nooks and crannies has increased.