I used to do 61 IFR instruction in my 172 when I lived in Seattle 15 years ago. Back then, any 141 school would have been much more expensive hourly wise and maybe not had a sim like I did. The 50 hour X-C requirement would bring the the total price of going 61 up to match going 141 but you had more hours and more general experience when you took the ride, which I think was a good thing. As far as quality, I had been a CFI for 20 years teaching out of my own airplane which was well equipped and maintained. 141 schools? They got their CFI's from their own programs and typically weren't high time. I tried to get my students exposed to as much actual IFR as possible and hopefully an ILS to mins and a missed approach. I doubt any of that is in a 141 syllabus. In the end, it's not about 141 or 61 when you speak of quality. It's about your desire, attitude, and how good your CFI is. I realize the OP was looking at it from a price standpoint so YMMV a lot depending on your location. It sounds like your options are pretty limited. If you want to do it cheap, I'd look into Sheble's 10 day program in AZ.
