The sequence for everything is Power Attitude Trim.....the only time it ever changes is at the top of the climb, where it becomes Attitude Power Trim....because we all know what happens if you pull the power with a high angle of attack!! ;)
As for the use of the controls....when I was a student, I learnt in the gazelle. I know...an easy thing to fly and doesnt take much to do it. But when it came to trimming the thing, I never liked to use it. I always thought that I was in this game to fly an aeroplane, Im gunna fly it, not let some lever do the work.
And I flew most of the time, slightly trimmed, but always had my hands on the controls, with pressure.
Then came time for the Jab and my instructor rating..... boy oh boy did I learn that that trim was the best thing since sliced bread!! I have seen the best example of why you should use that trim. Surprisingly I have had a few students with the same initial mindset as me, in regard to trimming...its either not worth it for such small pressure, or, it's just so busy (like circuit intro's etc) that they just plain forget. Needless to say that when the benefits are pointed out to them for trimming....that is..that they can have a look around at whats going on and not 'chase' the attitude all the time...they find it far easier to take it all in. TRIM TRIM TRIM