I am working on my CFI, and giving thought to taking the ride in another
area, since the local FSDO is swamped. Does anyone have experience doing
this? Is it frowned upon? Is it a common practice?? Anyhelp would be
appreciated.

Bill Snow CP,IA, ASEL.

I can't think that it would matter, but I have nothing to base that on
other than my gut feel.

You should be able to go to whom-ever you want, as long as they are
certified to give the ride.

Provide us with a report when you get it all done!

Best Regards,
Todd

Won't matter at all. It is YOUR time to consider...not the FAA so
schedule wherever works. If you are asked you simply tell them its a
time issue.
Ol CFII (1966)

The FSDO is required to give you the ride within a certain amount of
time of your request (6 weeks I believe). If they cannot they are
REQUIRED to assign you a DE. That is what I did. To this day I've never
flown with a FSDO PI, just DEs.

-Robert