I think a lot of people over think this. A seed only needs heat and moisture.
I like to fill a clear solo cup with my normal medium (which is 25% soil/25% perlite/50% peat moss + other crap) and put a grow plug in it. I saturate the cup and drop the seed into the grow plug and put it someplace warm. 80F-90F is best. Any hotter and you might have to re-wet the top. Any lower and it takes longer to sprout. They don't even need light at this point. I don't cover them. I don't baby sit them. I don't water them. I just check to see when they sprout, which is usually always 3-4 days. I put them in my laundry room during the summer, on top of a light hood in the winter.. I've even used the water heater. Once they sprout, the first leaves will turn white if they don't get light soon. No biggie if they do. They turn green in a matter of hours once you give them light.
Once I see roots in my cups, I move them to 1 gallon containers, blah blah veg. blah blah.
Sometimes I'll do the paper towel method to make sure the seeds crack, but I don't wait for the root to start showing. I'll sandwich it between 2 plates and set it on top of a light hood or where ever is warm.
