With my first I didn't have an internal check until I was about to be induced for pre-eclamsia and with #2 I didn't have an internal until overdue and looking at induction plans so I would say it's pretty normal. Neither of my dr (both different) did the strep test. I too thought it was weird that everyone else was having updates in their final weeks as to if they were effacing/dilating etc I got nada. Interestingly enough at both my checks I was 3-4cm dilated and my laboours were only 5 and 3 hrs respective. I don't think having an internal is going to change the duration of your labour, nor tell you how long it will take as you can dialte and efface quickly or slowly I walked around 3cm dialted for over a week without going into labour :-)