I think a common theme is what to do with the stem. I cut mine off the plant as low as possible (no "zones") and stick them right into whatever water is on hand. No air bubbles in the stem. I do any leaf trimming or messing with the top first
After that I worry about where to actually cut. If there is only a node and the top above where I cut I clone the stem. I do several razor cuts on the stem, just tapping it really, but enough to break the outer dermis. If there are 2 nodes or more (rare) I clone at the lowest node. I leave about a half inch of stem below it that I treat the same as the "stem" clone, but I want to bury the node, Stuff will grow from there easy, whether it's roots or flowers. I don't worry as much about the scuffing with a razor but I still do it.
I use the Oasis horticubes, but have used soil and root-riots too. For any type of plug, I don't waste much effort on what I do to the naked stem. Most of that stuff you put on it is gonna get scraped off and be in a little ring around the stem on the top of the plug. After mutilation I dip the stem it the generic rooting hormones from the big box store ($4.99/jar) and that's it for the stem. I use the red gel Clonex, but I put 1/2ml of it in the cube-hole instead of dipping the stem in it.
Everything else is watering/keeping it humid, etc.