A few notes from Ms Walstad's previously plugged work. She has a whole chapter on substrates, or to put it more accurately "Soil". She doesn't seem to approve too much of anything else. Soil consists of a mixture of
1 Inorganic matter - This is stuff that comes from shells and skeletons of dead organisms, detritus from food, etc
2 Organic matter - The soft-tissue remains of dead-organisms, leaves fish, roots etc Byproducts like poo.
3 Minerals - Quartz, clay and sand that make up most soils
4 micro-organisms - Bacteria, fungus, yeasts etc. Living organisms.
Given this, item 4 especially, I would suggest that we don't wish it to be sterilised.
In a section tellingly entitled "Chaos in freshly submerged terrestrial soils" Ms W suggests that chemical changes within the first 6-8 weeks are capable of killing your fish and she goes on to suggest at least one large water change after adding soil; And the use of charcoal in the filter until 6-8 weeks.
Soils are apparently always acidic. So be extra vigilant if you live in a soft-water area.
Vacuuming is for cosmetic purposes only, ie if you use sand you may have to hoover up the mess on the top of the sand to prevent it looking dreadful, otherwise, leave well alone.
Set-up the tank dry. In other words put the soil in first, cover it with gravel and then carefully add the water. Once you've done all that, she says you can add fish. This contradicts what she said above, but, what do I know. I only flicked through it, so I probably misunderstood something. Maybe Richard can square the circle.
"EASY" plants aren't necessarily slow growing ones. Sometimes in fact, they are just the opposite. They are plants that require the simplest equipment, basic lighting, no CO2, basic feeding, simplest substrate, simplest keeper; and require the least 'interference' from the grower.