Another thing I just realized as I was perusing all of the postings. For the three checkrides I spent $450 on my MEI which was my initial CFI. There are (or were) so many applicants for CFI in FL that the FSDO can't handle them all and assign them to a very few, select DPEs accross the state. The CFII which was done in the Seminole and the Single Engine add-on in a 172 were $300 each. I just find it hard to believe that the examiners were charging $500 per check ride. Up here in NH it is only $225 average!