Do you let the turntable spin when putting down record and attach the clamp.

Actually, starting and stopping a belt drive repetitively probably does more harm than just letting it run. Direct Drive turntables are impervious to just about anything, their one major advantage in home use. Unless you are slip queuing records torque is not that important. I know, gives a turntable better pace and timing blah, blah, blah.
To bad nobody makes a DD table with an adequate suspension and vacuum clamping with a platter thick enough to keep the cartridge away from the motor. Why would anyone want to market a new turntable? Vinyl will be dead in just a few short years:-) 

Whenever you que up a record with the platter spinning, with or without a clamp/weight, you increase your chance of an accident. 

To bad nobody makes a DD table with an adequate suspension and vacuum clamping with a platter thick enough to keep the cartridge away from the motor

Obviously you know nothing about reference Direct Drive turntables. Some of them are suspended like Luxman PD-444, some have vacuum pump and specially designed platter like Victor TT-801 and others.

If someone really need suspended DD they could buy isonoe feet here.

Some reference superheavy direct drive have built-in springs like this. 

What DD do you have in mind when you post bad things about DD in general?

What about chain drive tables? Personally the rattling bugs me. Also, I have an ancient but simple Linn Basik/Akito and turn it off when changing records, especially since I use a Mitchell "Rega" clamp. It runs perfectly and should continue doing so well into the next couple of decades, although I do need to replace the cueing damping fluid...that's #497 on my list of things to do, and I'm only up to 12.

Whenever you que up a record with the platter spinning, with or without a clamp/weight, you increase your chance of an accident.

If one can't change records and cue the tonearm with a rotating platter, one should probably stick to seedees.
 
I imagine these are the same people we see driving around alone in a car wearing a face diaper.

Oz