Board and Batten material?

Trying to decide on siding material.

Indiana. Some are telling me EWP will work well, cost is good, easy to install. Others saying Easter White Cedar is the way to go.

Pro's for EWP - lower cost, easier installation, stable.
cons for EWP - Pitch will bleed in direct sun, not rot or insect resistant. Will Rot be a real problem on siding or will it dry quickly and last a long time? Will insects really attack it? There will be 18 inches of stone from the ground up before the siding starts so you won't get splashing at the ground.

Pro's for EWC - More rot and insect resistant, no pitch bleeding
Con's for EWC - Cost 2-3 times more than EWP so I'm being told. I've already priced EWP at .90/linear foot in 12".

Any experience help appreciated.

Board and batten, rough sawn, left to gray naturally, in central Indiana.

There's a ton of white pine siding around here. It's on barns that are 200 or more years old. If it can dry, it lasts for centuries. In fact, Jack Sobon says it wears away at the rate of 1/4' per century, per his experience removing it from old barns. I have no experience with cedar.

I'd go with pine too. Maybe try to cut the sapwood out. Also, I have to say that I've never been a fanatic about nailing like some people are (or claim to be). EWP doesn't move that much, and I feel like the nails can tweak a little if the board does move.

Here in New England modern pine trim and siding starts to rot in about eight years if there is any sapwood. I am convinced most old pine is more rot resistant than new pine but no one has been able to definitively tell me why.

Being 18" from the ground is a great design detail for durability with any species.

If you are talking board and batten material applied to a timber frame, be aware that with only one layer of material it is difficult to properly flash window and door openings.

Fine Homebuilding has a short article on installing and finishing b&b at: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/item/29146/how-to-install-board-and-batten-siding

In the 19th century it was recommended to relieve the back side of the battens so the edges fit tightly which helps keep water out, b&b siding leaks more than materials that lap such as shingles and clapboards.

Good luck;
Jim