I ALWAYS did a thorough pre-flight inspection. Even if the rental plane had been flown that day and had just landed. Whilst I was learning to fly I was told a story about two guys who owned a tiger moth. One had been flying the previous day and noticd some stiffness in the elevator controls, after flying he set about undoing the linkages to give them a once over before going home. He didnt finish the job, planning on returning in the morning to complete his work. On arrival at the hanger the plane was gone, he found it and his now deceased part owner at the end of their private grass runway amoungst the trees. The other owner had decided to go for an early morning flight and just jumped in and away he went. Obvioulsy no pre-flight or even controls free, full and correct pre takeoff check was done or he'd be alive.

Checklists and double checks will save your life.

BTW who use's the TMPFISCH check, pretty much covers it all for flying light aircraft if you apply each letter to everything that begins with that letter. ie: Trims set, Mixture rich, mags both, pitch set, fuel selected/ fuel pumps as req'd, Instruments L-R T-B set, switches (inc every switch, radios the lot) as req'd, controls, carby, cabin air, hatches harnesses or anything else that fits.