Some years before the '89 Dryden accident and the ensuing clean wing concept, a friend of mine related that when he was SLFing BOS-YYZ on Air Canada, the DC-9 stopped before the runway, the rear exit stairs came down and a pilot went out and ran his hand over the wing.
He expressed the feeling that there should be instruments to detect surface contamination. I told him that there aren't any and that the AC crew was doing exactly the right thing, especially the part about checking just before takeoff
Since then SOPs and regs have changed to now exclude conditions experienced crews formerly accepted and successfully flew in.
Yes, de/anti-icing may be used more often than strictly necessary. If every ten years or so, it prevents another Dryden, it's worth it.
Sadly last year another Fokker was unsuccessful in taking off
Collision between Air France Fokker and truck in PAU