I repot. I took a seed starting class that used the method of planting a lot of seeds in a larger square pot of starter mix and then transplanting to individual cells or pots when they get true leaves and then using potting soil. I like to less space in the beginning but I'm also giving some old seed a last chance. I don't do the germination test in paper towels that some do. I'd rather save a step and put the seeds directly in soil. Personal choice I think.

I start my tomato plants inside a little later than most growers (no like baby-sitting them). By the time they are 4-5" tall I'll plant half of them directly from cell packs into the garden and re-pot the other half. If the early ones don't do well, are hit by a frost, get broken by wind or critters, etc, than I use the re-potted ones as replacements. Otherwise, if the early ones take hold and do well then the repotted ones are given away to new homes.

BTW, for an extra early tomato I just buy 2 mature plants at the nursery and keep them inside until the soil has warmed up enough. This way I'll get some vine ripened tomatoes about 2 weeks sooner than the ones I grew myself. It's "cheating" but less work.

I don't see a problem with your plan other than they may get root bound if you have to keep them in the cell packs too long.

I start my tomatoes in 806 cell packs and at about 3 weeks I pot up to 4" pots but only fill them about 3/4 full. Then I fill the pots up to the top a few days to a week before hardening off so the plants have a chance to grow more roots off the stem and to give them more support against the wind.

I repot. I start some in 4" pots, then when they are big enough, I re-pot them into their own 4" pots, or solo cups depending on the plant. I've had some tomatoes do fine with one re-potting, and others that were monsters that needed 2-3 repots before going out for hardening off. Depends on the plant.

So, I think I may still need to upsize at least two of each variety to 4" pot at some point although I am able to skip the little 128-cell tray. The rest, I end up giving away to friends and family anyway, so maybe I will move the tomato donation event up a week and hand them out in the 2.5 inch pots. It does take up a lot light, soil and heat-mat area right at the start is another issue I saw. I am two weeks in now. Every year I fool myself into forgetting what a jungle this turns into at about the 6-week mark. Even with rotation, my Dester are looking to be the monsters this year. Thank you all.

I repot too. I had problems when I attempted to not fill the pots up to the top, as seedlings suffered because they were unable to get enough light.

I never broke a stem in many many years, and then I broke one yesterday - sigh. More care was needed........

Linda