On Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:39:40 -0700,
wrote in .com:

He told
me I was a competent instrument pilot and gave me a temporary cert! I
didn't want to argue but over the years I have thought; "dang, I
must've had the easiest instrument ride EVER!" And to this day I think
it was grossly insufficient...

The DE's appointment is riding on the airmen he passes. His
experience and the information he gleans from the instructors about
checkride candidates probably tells him more than the examinees'
performance on the ride itself.