New twist "on pre-flight inspections."

Reading the "On pre-flight inspections" thread got me thinking about a
new twist on the subject.

You did a pre-flight but experienced a problem in flight. The problem
would not have (or probably wouldn't have) surfaced if you woulda,
shoulda, coulda done a bit more thorough of a pre-flight.

Me?
I did an overnight visit to Gilmer, TX. and did not tie the school's
172 down for lack of sufficient tie-down provisions. At my brother's
home that night watching the news, the weather showed a line of mighty
Texas thunderstorms headed our way. Not wanting to pick up pieces of
the Cessna in the morning, I headed back out to the little Gilmer
(4F4?) airport to try & tie her down.
I found a tie-down cable in the grass (nothing on the tarmac) and
since I was by myself I fired her up & taxied off the apron onto the
turf to utilize the cable. I couldn't have pushed the 172 alone across
grass & dirt anyway. As soon as the nosewheel left the pavement I
heard a loud "ping." Hurrying to get back home before the deluge, I
didn't investigate the noise, I was definately a greenhorn private
pilot at the time.
In the morning I was in a rush to get the fully-scheduled 172 back to
the school so my pre-flight was...well...quick, and not very thorough.
I had all but forgotten about the "ping" until I gave her full power
to takeoff and suddenly we were vibrating, rattling, and generally
causing a situation that would've caused most pilots to cut power,
taxi off & investigate. Not me; I had get-home-itis and would've been
in trouble for getting the plane back beyond my scheduled block of
time.
I was concerned, but the vibration almost went away when I reduced
power for cruise.
Back in Corsicana, TX. at Navarro College's flight school, the line
man was refueling & called out to me; "Ricky, WHAT did you DO to this
airplane's propeller?!?" Walking over I discovered a large 1"-2" chunk
missing from the prop blades, which, of course, caused the vibration.
I had hit the tie-down cable with the prop when the nosewheel left the
asphalt & went down slightly into the grass. I suppose this could have
been way more trouble than it was because the engine may have been
able to vibrate itself right off the engine mounts...then I wouldn't
be typing this post right now.
ALWAYS do a thorough pre-flight...I have ever since then.

Ricky