Mach: This thread is not about whether there should be a return to some mythical good ol' days of "firm but reasoned bollocking" rather than a "punitive approach".
It's primarily about a very simple question: Can the operator of an aircraft and its pilot engaged in PVT operations satisfy the requirements of CAR 232, as 'modified' by the exemption, by establishing and implementing a system of rote-learned emergency and normal checklists?
There can only be one answer out of two mutually exclusive alternatives. The answer is either 'yes' or 'no'.
If the answer is yes, there is no ground on which an FOI can deliver a "firm but reasoned bollicking", or anything else, to a PVT pilot who does not produce paper or electronic copies of checklists, in accordance with the CASA guidance on ramp checks for GA pilots. If the answer is yes and the pilot says s/he's rote-learned the checklists for the aircraft, presumably the FOI can ask: "What are your actions if you suffer an engine failure after take off?", and the pilot can choose whether to answer or not.
If the answer is no, CASA should make a clear statement that it requires copies of paper or electronic checklists to be produced by GA pilots during ramp checks, irrespective of the classification of the operation.
Then there's the overarching issue of complexity ...
"Beyond a point, complexity is fraud."