Name: Christine North East Texas (Zone 7b) Shine Your Light!
Fermenting the seeds is a way to try to mimic mother nature by breaking down the gel sac surrounding each seeds which, like Caroline said above, contain germination inhibitors but can also contain diseases.
Imaeus, any tomatoes yet?:
May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day --Native American Proverb