Centaurus,
Secondly, check the ease of use of the primer plunger. Some bind and are difficult to move. You might need to use the primer to prime the fuel lines before re-starting, if the propeller stops during closed throttle operation in the air such as stall recovery practice.
I am scratching my head at why this is a sensible practise, and despite what might be in some old POH's, this could likely prevent a restart.
A better method is get the prop spinning, with WOT and do a mixture sweep from ICO-FR and repeat slowly if it does not catch the first time. Do not pump away at it like you would with throttle during a primer-less engine start when starting in the ground. At low levels it will be close to full rich when she fires up.
As to your comments on primers, you are quite right, they mostly cause problems, and are better off removed!
Is there some personal experience I or others can learn from your days past?