I would never keep a hamster or gerbil.. but they are preferable to mice, yes.

I had a gerbil bite and hang on to my finger.. yes, it bled. I was trimming her nails (I didn't cut too much and make her bleed either!)

I've been bitten by hamsters as they were just walking on my hands/arms.. just random bites as they walk along.. no reason whatsoever. Hams/gerbils don't seem to have much in the way of intelligence.

Both are much less stinky.