As for soil I will look at all the options
and do plenty of research. There is loads of good threads on here to look through
Your right about good threads, almost to many 🙂 as far a substrate goes i think some people choose because of price, some because of brand (ADA) and some because they have really done their research. I think as long as people use EI then i'm not too sure if it matters (compaction issues are the only thing that comes to mind).
Jim