If you guys are interested I can provide an instructors point of view
When I am asked to do a check ride ( by that I mean flying with a pilot who allready has type experience, not a checkout on a new type ) ; I always tell them I can pretty much decide if they are safe by the time we have finished the run up, so why don't we use the dual to work on what they percieve as weak areas. Most just want to do the minimum which I think is a shame as your average PPL benefits from the chance to polish his or her flying.
BTW I will not do a check ride without a PFL ( If the flight is going well I usually just fail the engine on downwind )