I only get into general aviation aircraft as the PILOT.
That is one way I make sure the right decisions have been made pre-flight.
I've long considered learning to fly, but have decided that it would not be a healthy move for me. To give but one example, if I'm driving my car and I start to hear a strange noise coming from it, my general inclination is to turn up the radio volume so that I don't hear the noise anymore. Can't get away with that in a plane...