ORIGINAL: j.duncker
I still hand start a lot but ALWAYS wear a leather gardening glove.
Why, well by turning the engine over by hand then flicking without the plug on you get a 'feel' for the engine and can pick up on a problem.
But lazy days wil see me with the leccy starter although I always turn over by hand at least once.
I do not use an electric starter very often for the same reason. You can feel the engine through the prop and pick up possible issues before they become catastrophic.