Soil germination

Is soil germination really any worse than the paper towel method. It seems like it would be easier to scuff some seeds, plop em in some soil and set them on your balcony to soak up some of natures finest rays? After that all you would have to do is put it under your light before the bugs get it. I dont have any experience with soil germination so I dont know what the actual success rates are.

Or if I am the 10 millionth person to ask this please show me where the thread is

When I was younger I tried exactly that until I realized after 5 or 6 days that I couldn't see the seeds and had no clue where they were. That's the Achilles' heel of your idea, I think.