You're ordering the events out of sequence, it's a pushback checklist not a before start checklist. And when we're already pushing, it's too late for "how bout..." I can either simply just do it myself, or tell the tug crew to stop. I agree with you about the downsides of the latter option (toldja you'd love it!) which is why I don't do it.

But guess who's putting me in that position? Of course, the guy who sees the "big picture," too old, wise, and worldly to get hung up on "whatever they're teaching at the schoolhouse these days." Just like every one that's caused a wreck that stems from a SOP noncompliance. Here's the real big picture, you have a set of simple instructions you're required to follow so that everyone's singing off the same sheet: 1, 2, and 3. All you have to do is 1, 2, and 3; that's it! Easy. Done. This is really that simple, it's not some compound emergency Apollo 13 situation that might require you to get creative. And guess what, if you lack the ability to follow the instructions in the easy everyday straight forward case, that only lowers my trust in your ability to think your way through the compound emergency.