Dan G wrote:

Vaughn and John, that's why you do pre-flight checks.

Of course. But then, pilots do mistakes. Otherwise there would be no
accidents. So the point is to behave in a manner that you have options
even when you made a mistake or even two.

Of course I would grab the release knob if it were buried somewhere
between my legs. But I don't if it's easily reachable. I do touch it
once before takeoff though, as part of my departure briefing.