Nice post lazarus! I just see a lot of issues with soil grow in terms of flies, gnats and root aphids is all. Seems like you would never really know where you are at, at the root zone with soil. Salts build up, so you need to flush even in soil. This is no big deal for many, but I do like the instant control of hydro. The soil is a buffer and some people enjoy the feeling of this safety net. This buffer can also harbor disease, salt build up and not provide the most ideal of growing conditions.
When I am feeding a hydro formula I am able to better understand the exact elemental breakdown and know the exact ppm of each element in the solution. Armed with this information I can then tailor a formula that the plants feed on in an ideal manner, as they want to feed. I like understanding and controlling all of these factors in an indoor setting. That's why I grow indoors. My plants feed exactly what they want, when they want it. This creates explosive, healthy growth.
When you grow indoors you are nature by default so I want to control every aspect of "nature" that I can. I can then monitor, record and analyze the results.
I agree with what you say about starting out with a good high quality soil. I just believe a true analysis of some soils and organic components would reveal some surprising results is all...
I like the beneficial critters in soil. I think this is a good thing. I do not mean to sum up everything living in soil as "shit".
I am not worried about things living in around or on my plants outdoors. I find that nature, fueled by the sun grows the most spiritual and satisfying of cannabis.
I agree that the best smoke will always be organic in terms of flavor with most strains. I have learned to grow amazing smoke with amazing flavor with hydro....that burns to a clean ash....flavor that many would believe is organic. I will always honor any comitment to growing that is 100% organic. This is a true art. Growing cannabis in fact can be very bad when nature is not considered in a hydro setting. The amount of water wasted/used, for example, is outstanding as is the run off from the nutes that you use.
The Chem family is said to taste different when grown hydro. Some people like that taste better.