I have the impression you have put the villain specifically in a weaker ace, when people can actually open raise/cold call a 3bet with a wider range, including low and mid pairs, most of the suited with faces and of course big pairs. So I don't think you are reducing variance by playing in this way.
I usually flat call (a raise) in or out of position looking for a cheap flop and to keep the pot under control. I don't like 3bet AKs since this would cost a sizeable portion of my stack and put me in a tricky flop in which in most part of the time I would be counting with fold equity only.
Take this example into consideration:
The initial stack is 1500, bb in 20, someone open for 60 from utg got 1 caller from mp, you make it 180 from Bu with AKs, everyone folds to the initial raiser that calls followed by mp.
The pot is now 180x3+10+20= 570
The flop comes 9hQs7c.
Both players check to you.
What would you do?
Note that by 3betting you just managed to make your job of cbet much more costful.You have expended 180 in the 3bet and now you have1320 in your stack. If you want to make a usual cbet of half pot you will have to expend 285, thus making your stack 1035. And if someone calls your cbet and the turn is a blank, you will find yourself short stacked just on the early stage of the tournament. Or you can assume your AKs is still the best hand and fire a 2nd barrel. Well, if you are right then good -- you will double up if one they call; but if you are wrong, then it is bye bye tournament. My thought: people (usually) don't call a 3bet with air.
SGN is not like cash where the possibility of replenishing allow you be creative: I consider a very bad move 3bet AKs in position by default.