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My route was similar but different.
I bought my Skymaster with 138 TT. I then went to a ME school in Texas, about $1k, and got my conventional ME rating. Then, when I came back from TX, I flew with my instructor in my plane, and did all the instrument training in my plane. It was a great way to get to know the aircraft. Finding a DPE was a little difficult, but not overly so, and did the ME IFR checkride with him. Because I had a VFR conventional ME rating, I ended up with a IFR ME rating, no CLT restriction. The checkride was thorough. My aircraft had no GPS, but does have a slaved electric HSI. The DPE covered that up anyway for the partial panel part of the test.
Since I did all the training in my plane, I had no simulator time, and it probably cost me more. The benefit was I quickly accumulated significant amount of time in the aircraft, which affected, positively, my insurance rates when it came time for renewal.
Also, I recall the DPE saying, " you really know your airplane ", which was a very positive comment.
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