"That shouldn't have to be a formal recall item", Agreed, but neither should putting the gear down before landing but a two crew aircraft recently landed gear up" because they missed that line on the checklist" [ no kidding!} You are correct, the problem is a combination of "rote" training, checklists longer than the Dead Sea Scrolls and a lack of basics drilled into students early on in their training. Way back when a Super Constellation was staggering down 28 in Dorval, the FE reached up to retard the throttles a smidge as they were in slight over boost, the guy in the left seat, who was known for a rather penetrating high pitched voice yelled at the top of his lungs, "don't touch those, that's what makes it go" seems the truth of this is getting lost!