“ They are not innocent victims.”
140 check rides. Not 10. Not 30. One-hundred and forty.
The FAA placed a stamp of approval on the DPE. Either that stamp is worth something, or it’s not.
Turns out, if that stamp is worthless then yes, there are victims. That stamp is meaningless and you might as well have taken a check ride from your local FDA approved butcher.
The responsibility here, lies directly with the FAA. The FAA holds a monopoly on who can give check rides. If you can’t receive a proper check ride with an FAA approved DPE, where else can you get one?