"Pins & Pitot covers". Go no further until you are absolutely certain they've been removed…… If not certain, ask the LAME to visually confirm. May take a minute but so be it.
This 100%. Pilots need to stop "helping out" management and their metrics and start creating problems. So often I see pilots to eager to solve problems and take on responsibility that really shouldn't be there. If the flight's delayed until we can complete a checklist properly the flight is delayed. Especially so in something like this where the risk is so high.
Remember that they will blame you for any mistakes if you take on the responsibility and solve problems for them. If BNE flights are always delayed 5 mins to check the pitots are correct then they will soon enough get the message. If you get some push back just quote them chapter and verse of the manual and the problem will become theirs to deal with. Nothing gets solve quicker in aviation than an issue that affects a manager's bonus.