Mulching or transplanting leeks?

Ya know how some people, in order to have a longer white stalk in leeks, build a mound of dirt up around sides of leek or use tubes to cover them?   Couldn't the same be done simply by mulching with like pine needles, dry grass, dry hay or straw?   Wouldn't that be the best way?   I have my shallots, leeks, tokyo long bunching onion and chives all in the same bed.  Should I just mulch the whole thing like 1-2 inches?   Right now the soil is really drying out during the middle of the day and have to sprinkle on water once or twice per day.. and it's not even APril yet!  I am in 6b/7a zone.

Also my shallots are planted so the top 1/3 to 1/2 is exposed.  Is it okay to mulch over this?  So they are still exposed over the soil but shielded from the sun.. only the leaves are sticking through the mulch.

Another question, sorry I am such a newbie.  I assuming it isn't okay to mulch over freshly sowed seeds?  So I am forced to keep the dirt exposed to the sun and have to water the surface every day?  It often forms a crust and I have to break it up here and there as the seedlings come through.

Anything that blocks light will cause them to turn white, soil is just a handy and historical way of doing it.  I have seen videos of people using dark cloth instead of soil.

I was in fact myself just tonight thinking that something other than soil would be nice as I was cleaning the dirt out of the leek that I was cutting up for tomorrows soup.

There are some videos on youtube in England where they are growing giant leeks for competition and they are using materials to block the light rather than soil.

Sowing small seeds in the dry period, when the sun is blasting every day and also the wind does its bit, doesn't work for me. I intend to try Bill Mollisons method of using a plank over the soil until the seeds have germinated. For seeds that need to be direct-seeded like carrots and parsnips, that is. Most seeds I'm starting up in pots indoors. I suppose for beans using mulch would work fine when direct-seeding.

I use pieces of rainwater diverter around each leek and fill it with whatever I have, usually mulch or oak leaves. And, not that you asked, but I've found it helpful, I just cut off the leek about one inch above soil level, and let them regrow. It doesn't work forever, but it has worked for me for several harvests.

I just transplanted my leeks this week. What I do is drop them individually in a deep hole then water them in to settle the roots. I actually like the green parts of the leaves anyway, so am wondering whether not to bother transplanting at all and just let surrounding foliage blanch them a bit. I guess I'm wondering if the roots will stay firm this way and wonder if anyone has more experiences to share.
Thanks