That some BS right there.. Pisses me off to NO end when I hear of someone giving false information on growing!!
lol..
Well, 4 the most part its best to let your seeds "cure" just like you would with the buds. I usually just let my seeds cure in the buds. I remember my Grandmother doing this with "pumpkin" seeds.
She would spread them out on a newspaper and let them sit in a window seal to dry out.. However you can take seeds right off the plant and germ aswell. I have a few offspring of a flowering strain going right now.
Grapish from the Grape-48 cross I made. I also try and help hard to crack seeds along the way like you said. I stick most of mine in a "matchbox" with fine sandpaper, shut it up, then shake the hell out of them! Works like a charm..
I also use "rapid start" for those old hard to germ beans..