Without knowing the particulars, it sounds normal. Your worry about irresible fingerprints is well founded. If your model feels tacky, you're better off setting it aside to cure for as long as it takes until it no longer feels that way.
Something to be aware of is dry vs. cured. A lot of times, you will find that a model will initially feel dry, but if handled much them feels tacky with maybe a fingerprint or two left in the finish. Basically what is happening is that the surface of the finish has skinned over and seems dry, but the rest of the paint underneath is still wet. The point here is that even though the paint may seem dry after a short while, it will still probably take quite a while longer to fully cure all the way through it entire thickness.
Gloss finishes do typically take a lot longer to cure than do flat finishes. Possibly our residient chemist will chime in with the molecular explanation behind it (hint, hint, Ross), but I know in my own experience that seems to be the case. With flat finishes, in a warm, dry climate, I find that they usually cure enough in an hour or two for careful handling with a light touch, whereas gloss finishes are usually at least an overnight affair if not longer. If your climate is cooler or more humid, expect your cure times to be longer.
If you absolutely have to handle a model that has not fully cured, use a light touch. Try to cradle it in your hand rather than really clamping with your fingers. If you can get a set of thin modeling gloves, I find they help as well.
Andy