Rick, picture me with my magnifier headband and dental tool!
When some seeds germinate and their little roots can't find DOWN, I gently prod them downward. Or if the seeds sprayed into another plug cell, I gently lift it into it's own space.
This is the first year I used plug trays for starting except last year I did it for lettuce only. This year, because I wanted to start so many seeds and I only have two heat mats and two heating pads, I wanted them as compact as possible. It's probably not idea, BUT I have been doing seeds long enough I wasn't intimidated. At one point I had 14 plug trays planted! What a chore, every moring and/or evening putting them in the boot tray to bottom water and misting the tops! I went away for a few days and left hubby in charge and he only misted. Yikes! But he was kind enough to even volunteer to do it, and like I said, they're just plants...
Sometimes when I have a lot of seeds or larger seeds (marigolds) or I'm just plain getting lazy, I will broadcast. In that case I usually just use potting mix.
Actually I should use some bark in my potting mix though, make it stretch and keep it light. Sometimes that compost can make it pretty heavy. One thing I have found down here in GA., the potting mix is not the same as what I am used to in MD. IT's not soil at all, it's pretty much shredded bark. Maybe because of the clay? Sort of like what the nurseries are potting their plants in.
