The reason many people opt to get their cfII first is because once you have your cfII you can take your cfI checkride with an FAA Examiner and not an inspector. Big difference here. The FAA inspectors can really rake you over the coals and it almost seems as if they want you to fail. Your FAA examiner will be much more tollerable and make your checkride a more pleasant experience. Its a loophole in the system. Not many people are aware of it. You hear about all the BS that the inspector's are putting cfi applicants through so I say go around them, many of them are very sour people and couldnt fly to save their lives.......its too bad.