Hey Josh,
I had the same thoughts when getting my certification and I did exactly as you described. I did all of my classwork here in the US - Virginia, and completed my open water dives in Bocas Del Toro, Panama. I wish I had done my certification dives at home... here is why.
Where ever you go there is bound to be an abundance of different dives available to you. Drift, wreck, coral, night, cavern, etc. If you do not have your certification completed you are limited to dives in the 15-30 ft. range and to those that have optimal conditions for a skills dive. I would rather spend my vacation $$ towards a dive of my choice rather than being forced to a dive site because "this is where they certify all divers".
Also, I had trouble with my Panamanian dive outfit. Even though both were from the same certifying agency, they just did not get it. I’m sure there was a bit of a language barrier, but they did not understand that I wanted to complete my open water skills assessment there. What ended up happening is we paid for a discover scuba course and did not get the comforting feeling of knowing we could complete ours skills with proficiency in a real world, open water scenario. The only skills required were buddy air share and taking off our masks in 10ft of water. This may not be an issue for you, but it was for me. Completing your certs with an instructor you trust holds a great value. I ended up spending my next couple of dives at home with my instructor do the open water skills again.
When I came home, the signed log book was not enough for my instructor. He wanted to speak with the Panama Instructors personally. Good thing I had their phone numbers. Getting them on the phone was another story.
Anyways. I hope you will have a better experience should you decide finish your dives somewhere else, but just be aware that this is not the preferred route. You will never get the attention and care that would be provided by a local instructor. The international instructors see you as a one and done customer. You’re local instructor knows that if he/she does their job right you will be a returning customer as you continue to pursue a diving education. In the end, you will be a safer, more effective diver if you choose to complete certification at home.
good luck, dive safe!!