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I think all in all getting to that level of plant choosing requires a lot more along the lines of real world experience rather than simply knowing how to stave off algae. Most of the 'pros' you see in aquascaping competitions and definitely Amano use things like bacter and so forth to pre-load the substrate with beneficial things that naturally help balance out the aquarium prior to the plants "taking over" whereas me and my poor self normally go with a self-made mix of cheap substrate materials to achieve the same "eventual" effect that the ADA substrates have. In the beginning, however, it does help for me to try using plants that will suck up the nitrates and help some of the other plants get started. My last two tanks have been done without doing this though, as I've learned to slope up my ferts and lighting to the final desired levels rather than having to change plants midway. More than this, though, is actually being able to visualize the scape you want in the end. I will be the first to admit that my opinion of the plants that I want now and my opinion 5 weeks into the growth of the tank have ALWAYS differed greatly. No matter how much forthought I give to plant choices, I'm always wrong on at least one of them. This is because I simply don't have the amount of experience some of the pros do and, hence, don't know exactly what some of the different plants will grow out to look like against a different plant, in different light, etc. For me, though, the journey is just as rewarding as the 'scape.' Maybe that's because I'm lacking in the 'artistic eye' department and my learning curve on that side is a bit steeper, but who knows? My thumb is green and algae free at the moment and for now, I'll take it! 
