Now if you are looking for an endorsement to take the flight exam on
your word, that is a very big problem for anyone with a professional
bone in their body.

I don't know that I agree with that. As a CFI and AGI I think the
endorsement for the exam is outdated and meaningless. Taking an exam
before you are ready doesn't harm anyone but the student themself. The
FAA no longer pays for the tests (you do). In truth, the only reason I
even bother asking a few questions to students asking for the
endorsement is to save them the $80 if they aren't. After commercial,
no other knowledge exams require any endorsement.

BTW: For those that have been out of the training world for awhile,
you no longer need to sign that you've given any knowledge training.
You now only need to sign that you've reviewed the study material the
student used. See AC-61-65D for information concerning endorsements.

-Robert