There is an old understanding that you dont really know an aircraft before you can fly it without a checklist ie you could use the checklist to confirm you have done everything rather than using the checklist as some sort of fly by numbers handbook.
Of course you should use the checklist but if you make a mountain of it then you have to question how well you really know your aircraft.
Its good practice to learn to fly without a checklist! when you can do that then use the checklist
Pace