Ground speed control with leaning

I like to keep RPM in ground operations just over 1000 to minimize fouling.
This is always a compromise with brake usage however. Controlling speed by
riding the brakes is a clear no, no. One suggestion a CFI made to me
recently is to just leave the throttle alone, apply brakes briefly, let the
plane pick up speed again, repeat as necessary.

I had an idea today which worked well and I wonder if anyone sees a
downside. I always operate our 172 N on the ground leaned to the max.
Instead of using the brakes this morning, I just leaned some more until the
engine sagged and controlled my speed that way. Turning the vernier knob
didn't seem much more work than pushing the throttle in and out. Running
super lean like that must be good for the plugs.

I understand that early aircraft engines didn't have throttles, climbed and
flew flat out, and then landed this way. That always seem clumsy to me but I
can see now that it would have worked fairly well.

--
Roger Long