I've been taught not to use checklists. If you are methodical then you shouldn't miss anything on light aircraft. You can walk round the aircraft checking everything that doesn't require power in one circuit, then perhaps a second circuit for services.
Before I started I was given what I should check along with pics of the aircraft and my instructor went round it in detail with me (and went round it with me the first few times).
I have generic mneumonics for pre take off, pre landing, after take off and emergencies ingrained in my skull. Some letters don't make sense on this aircraft but do on others, but are taught as standard so it is easier to move from one aircraft to another. I've successfully used the same mneumonics with a Bolkow Junior, PA28 (has a separate primer) and SA Bulldog (VP Prop). If I'm not sure of something, I have checklists available to me (whats that hot start procedure for an injected engine again...).
I can't see whats wrong with that. It means I know what's behind every check so I'm not blindly list following. Last time I saw someone use a checklist, they walked round the plane about 10 times taking twice as long and didn't do any extra checks compared to me.