Of course! I take the suggested precautions and often a few others, especially for multi-leg international trips. I DO carry fresh pix of my bags and their more important contents as well as the details of make/model and serial number of gear that simply must be checked. Truth told, I do NOT want to make a reimbursement claim or receive a check; I want MY BAGS at MY airport and when I arrive. Some additional tricks that I have learned, often the hard way...
1. Connecting flights, especially for long, complicated international trips are a fact of life. Making the human connections between these flights can be a strain and stuff does happen. Allow extra time for yourself - and for your bags. Your odds of success will improve. (If you've faced with a long layover and perhaps are not flying on a front cabin ticket, pony-up and buy your way into the best lounge that you can find. If the layover is >2.5 - 3 hours, it is usually worth the extra expense. The longer layover also gives your airline(s) a much better chance to get your bag(s) onto your airplanes. Be patient! That lounge access fee may be the best $50 you've ever spent!
3. When possible, ask the lounge or gate agent to scan your bag check ticket to find out where your bag is resting - or being loaded. Some can do it and will gladly do so. Others cannot - or will not, but it never hurts to ask. If reports suggest that your bag is still at the city of origin, or worse, someplace not on your itinerary, start asking some polite, but pointed questions.

I guess the take home here is to allow at least as much connection time for your bags as you do for yourself. If you've got multiple legs ahead of you, don't be afraid to ask that check-in agent about baggage routing. Allow time for t hem to do their transfer work and understand that it is not as simple as your walk from gate A-1 to gate G-29 and a half. It usually works, but don't push a nearly broken system with extremely short connections; it won't work.
As everyone always says, that carry-on, always with you, must contain fresh personal linen (your undies, dude!) and any essential medications. Your documents stay in your pocket and good luck!

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