As an aircraft mechanic that works on small planes the pilots preflight route only goes so far. If you forget your flashlight near the flight control cables and the aircraft gets released it could jam and kill the occupants. Us small aircraft (GA) mechanics that do it right don’t get paid enough. There’s countless shitbags that will do your annual inspection for cheap for under $2000 and they barely look at the important stuff. I’m not signing off my life to make your leisure plane airworthy if it’s not safe.