All good stuff above - especially the final walkaround before taxiing (saved taxiing into a freight trolley hidden down by the elevator and taxiing off with an open rear locker in a 210), and this is what I have learnt :
If it flys, floats or faunicates, rent it by the hour,
ATC are there for YOU - so use them when you need to, trying to help them out can sometimes cause you problems.
Scan, Scan, Scan. Trim, Trim, Trim.