$81 for a visual inspection of stuff!?

So here's the deal. I've taken my 08 to the Toyota dealership for all scheduled maintenance up 'til now. The car has 26K miles (43K km).

It has had a total of 3 oil changes (they call it a "lubrication" service), and 1 oil change plus inspection (called a "service" service). Now, a basic oil change is $39 tax in. The oil change plus inspection is $120 tax in. It was to be more but I rotate the tires myself when I put the winter tires on so they reduced the bill for that.

In looking at the Maintenance Service Report provided, it looks like the dealer tech visually inspected a bunch of things, topped up the washer fluid, and "cleaned" the engine air filter. So basically all that cost me an extra $81.

When I bought the car I fully intended to take the car to the dealer for all scheduled maintenance while it's under warranty for peace of mind.

Well I am starting to think it's just not worth it. The $39 for an oil change surely has some good profit in it but $81 to visually inspect some stuff that I can do is kind of ridiculous. The last oil change took an hour and 15 minutes from the time I went in to the time I left, and that was with an appointment. So not only do they charge me good, they also waste my time (I could change my own oil in like 15 mins).

I normally change the oil myself on my vehicles and actually like doing it. I have no problem doing minor vehicle repairs as well, my dad worked at a Ford dealership for 29 years so I picked up a thing or two about cars while growing up

So here's my questions:
1) If I choose to just have the dealer do the $39 oil change in place of the more expensive $120 service procedure will it affect my warranty?
2) If I do the oil changes myself how might this affect my warranties? (I would use the Toyota filter but probably QuakerState or similar 5W30 oil). Yes, I'll keep my receipts.
3) I've heard of cases where something has failed just outside the warranty period but Toyota uses some goodwill and pays for part or all of the repair. Do you think this would still be an option if I changed my oil myself?
4) Do you think changing the oil myself rather than having the dealer do it decreases the resale value at all? I suspect not.

I guess I need some reassurance that it's OK to just change the oil myself at 5K mile intervals. I know how to visually inspect for torn CV boots, leaks, air filter condition, etc. anyway.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

There are no alternatives in these parts. This is truck country, I'm in a smallish city with only a handful of Prii on the streets (probably a dozen or less in the whole city). I'm not looking for an alternative to my local dealer.

I'm tired of the local dealer wasting my time, charging too much, and overfilling the crankcase.

 

Thanks. In all likelihood, I would be trading the car in to the local dealer on a plug-in version of the Prius in 2012/3.

An oil change at the dealer was $33 everything in 2 years ago, then it was $36 last year, now it's $39. They're doing nothing different so I guess they just wanted more profit ;-) Heck if they'd give me $33 oil changes I might keep going back.

I can afford it but I find it hard to swallow paying $81 for a visual inspection of things and a top-up of the washer fluid.... and I kinda want to do the oil change myself anyway