Speaking of dried out areas in piles, one reason to avoid any dried out areas is that seed destruction is largely dependent on a high degree of moisture. If the seeds in the pile are allowed to stay dry they are not nearly as easy to destroy, but if they are allowed to stay moist and the seed actually cracks open they are much easier to kill.
One good reason not to add lime to the pile is that the composting process will neutralize the ph anyhow. Much better to use the lime in the soil, than in the compost pile.
