Sterling, what you did is what I did last year... commercial bonsai soil, perlite, and lava rock. It worked fine. This year I am using even less organic stuff... actually, a handful of peat moss if the tree needs to be kept moist, but otherwise lava rock, perlite maybe (depends on the tree... perlite is cheaper but not very nice looking) and very fine bark. I'm using fine orchid bark, it's almost all the right size. And, in some tree's mix, a handful or less of bone meal mixed in. You get used to the odd look of it, when your trees thrive in it.
Don't worry, the rocks are our best friends. Just make sure to sift them. I know that many people don't sift, but they know what they are doing much more than us.
Use the small but not really fine particles of lava rock to put on the top of the soil if you like. About the size of BBs, or a little bit smaller. Keeps everything in place but still allows for plenty of air and water to pass through.
We'll get it right, won't we?
Joanie