The reason why it is ridiculous with the stage checks is if you went to a part 142 school that did final checks or stage checks, you're therefore vulnerable to many many more failures that will obviously ruin your career.

You're better off going to an online university and getting a garbage degree in basket weaving and going to a part 61 school where you can pay the same DE for all your ratings. The same DE that everyone knows you can buy a liter of rum for and you're almost guaranteed a pass, as opposed to a 141/142 school examiner who will fail you not on Part 91 rules, but on rules based on the more stringent school's rules.