Originally Posted by
wmlocante
Do you really think there are DPE's looking to fail students just to make an extra paycheck?
A few. Also some FSDO's will have a de facto "quota" for initial CFI failures. If the DPE is behind on his quota, he may be looking for any excuse.
With that in mind, it's a great idea to do your CFI with an examiner who has done one or more of your previous rides. Assuming you get along, he'll be somewhat emotionally invested in you and less likely to utilize you as a quota-filler.