Andy Blackburn schrieb:

1) Is there a good reason why one shouldn't do a runup
prior to every (cross-country) flight?

Yes. It has no starter. (And, btw: Even if it had one, the simple fact
that it starts *now* doesn't mean that it will start *then*.)

2) Do many pilots flying sustainer-equipped sailplanes
presume that the engine is unlikely to start and not
care,

Yes and no. Yes, flying a sustainer we *always* presume that the engine
is unlikely to start. And no, we actually care. Thats why we never rely
on a ststainer but only start the engine over a landable field.

Stefan