Welcome T.J.:
All the siding jobs I have seen using the pine log look are holding up just fine. The ones I have seen are all stained and seem to hold the stain well. Pine siding I have seen has never been good about holding paint though. I think the pine logs have a ship-lap joint to turn the water.
You should be able to get the pine logs for much less than I would have to pay, since you live in the heart of the pine forest .
Glenn