[Dantilla]

Two common "checklists" in aviation are "CIGAR" and "GUMP" memory aids that are not written.

Before take-off:

C-Controls. Free and correct
I-Insturments. Set gyro compass and altimiter setting
G-Gas. Plenty to make the flight plus reserves, and switched to the correct tank, dufus!
A-Attitude. Set the trim tabs for take-off
R-Runup. Check magnetos individually, cycle the prop.

Before landing:

G- Gas on the fullest tank, dufus!
U-Undercarriage. Gear down (double check, then tripple check) flaps set
M-Mixture. Back to full rich
P- Prop. Back to fine setting (first gear)

Simply doing these simple steps by memory will cover 99% of any factory checklist, and covers the important stuff.

To my mind, this is better than the current factory lists, which were obviously written by attorneys who's sole purpose is to not get sued by a dufus pilot.

To go through the entire checklist for Cessna's newest two-seater, the Skycatcher, takes several minutes.
And this airplane is as simple as they come.

For surgery, something easily remembered by all may be preferable to overly lengthy written lists.
Too bad the attorneys will insure the list is too long to be useful.