From my experience it's much harder/slower to start from seed in hydro or soil. But I don't use a ph meter and use tap water so that's probably my fault.
Once you start adding the nutrients, they will then buffer the ph to some degree.

Growing from a well rooted clone allows you to hit it with veg nutrients almost immediately, as the clone inherits its age from the mother.

To increase your chance of a successful 100% female grow, I would recommend starting a few seeds in soil or hydro with some CFLs. Wait until you can see preflowers, then take cuttings from your favorite plant.
These cuttings should root and be ready for transplant to a veg environment within 2 weeks.
Sure it will slow up the operation by a few weeks but the end result should be 6 'identical' female plants.

Also you should consider a separate veg cabinet. This way you can harvest every 8 weeks or so. Besides, I wouldn't want to waste all those lumens on little clones or seedlings.

Keep in mind that it only takes about 4 weeks from taking a cutting till the time you will have to start flowering it. Unless you plan on growing trees!

You can still germinate using your normal method.

Choose your seed based on strain. Don't worry whether it's feminized or not. You should really only need to germinate 1 female from seed. Then take a cutting and turn it into your mother.