Overwatering and pest are the only reasons i stray away from soil lol
Hey man, growing in soil is the easiest thing ever, just 2 steps:
1.- make a good soil mix
2.- water all the way to harvest, without runoff
You don't need to worry about ph, ppm, nutrient mixing shit and ph-ing it before watering, watering to runoff then cleaning the runoff, nutrient schedules, bottlely bottle crap, etc.
You dont want pests, same treatments as soilless:
Spray some neem oil, and Bti.
Got gnats? get some nematodes and spray the soil.
worried about overwatering? : water slowly and count how many liters/gallons/cups/watering cans your pots can take untill you see runoff, then use less than that number.
Even me, the noobiest of all noobs, can grow in soil.
Although no hate to hydro guys, to each their own.