8.5 ph is a little more than moderate, and I'm all for going as natural as possible, but if all it takes to mean the difference between ok pepper plants and great pepper plants is a little peat moss or similar, I will add the extra step EVERY TIME!
As for science projects, I use no meters, no guages, no testers and no chemicals! Once I've crafted my soil mix, I sit back water, add the occasional fish emulsion and seaweed extract, occasionally check for pests and let them do their thing!