These plants have been outside for a month now and they have BARELY grown any taller; however, stems have grown more sturdy, and this particular plant has started budding in the last 2 weeks...as if nothing is happening to it, haha.

It is my first year growing peppers from seed so I may have set them up for a rough life from the very start.

Initially, I thought that the slow growth may be an indicator that they were somehow root bound from having lived in their [terrible] seed pods too long—peeled away the biodegradable crap, broke up the root ball a bit, and repotted them in fresh soil.

Then came the insects, or, the obvious signs of insects—sprayed them down very thoroughly with a neem oil solution 7 days ago, and once again last night. I am not convinced the culprit has departed (though I can't find/see who is causing problems here). Could these insects be causing stunted growth?

Welp. At a loss. Is it worth saving?