Hey op. I get what you mean, a drop of ph down is the same as a few drops of ph up.
Found that to get it to work better the drops should be mixed with a small amount of water, then this water is used to adjust ph. If you get me. Also i have switched to potassium silicate for my ph up. I add 2ml to 10ml of water then use that to adjust my ph. The silicon is much more effective than the ph up i found.
Also i have tried using other adjusters, e.g vinegar, and found its effects where only temporay, and you had to use alot to move it 0.5ph. Also when using baking soda you are adding sodium to your feed, which is fine below 20ppm,(infact could boost yeilds but is very easy to over do. )but i would personally not be adding sodium to my plant at all. Im sure it also competes/blocks uptake of other elements.
Anyhow, take it easy.