Well Jeff the thing is, we have to-do lists because we actually don't wanna do the stuff in the list. Let's say I follow your advice and stop taking notes about whatever my boss tells me to do or the stuff I have to get done for myself by the weekend. If I do that I'll probably lose my work and play video games all weekend long. The advice "if it's important you will remember to do it" is untrue. I have important stuff THAT I HATE doing but I have to do. Also there is always those things that you only remember that need doing when you actually need them - like calling your girlfriend, hehe. Okay, bad joke. But yeah, if I throw away my To-do list and only do what I remember because that is what really matters I would probably play games the whole day and do nothing.