Just have to say I like your attitude Paul.
Personally the not using a checklist is not a crime in my book in a SEP but the the posters have valid views.
The use of mixture is one of the poorly taught items generally in the UK. I must admit I was teaching it incorrectly/didn't know what I was doing. When I was instructing full time. There are some quite good threads if you search for them on the forum.
The carb heat again is taught by alot as something you have a fiddle with as part of a series of checks. Its only after you have a bum twitcher with carb icing you get more switched on with it really does. My bum twitcher was after a PFL on the go-around doing mutal training for my FIC. The 60 seconds it took to clear hanging in the air not accelerating or climbing with the engine farting and shuddering seemed to last a hour.