Sure you donīt need a checklist on a 172.
Everytime I have a student with that attitude, I simply switch the fuel selector to closed and order a lenghty engine check.
The sudden engine stop usually makes it clear!
Iīm instructing PPL and also do typeratings and IFR checks on B90/B200īs,and since I was operating single Pilot very often, I learned the hard way to use checklist.
Then beside safety thereīs another point :
have a screening with a major airline and donīt order checklists, youīll have failed 100%. So why should one NOT learn it the correct way around from scratch ?
On the other hand, checklist should be short and logically, otherwise they will not be used.