Originally Posted by
flyinkiwi
I would temper what is being said here with what your ultimate goal in aviation is. If you want to end up at the pointy end of a turboprop or jet, then the DA42 platform offers similar systems management to what you'd find in an airliner. If you want a career in GA or fly your own plane I'd go for the Piper for all the reasons stated above.
Really? Have you put that theory to the test or is this something you were told?
You learn the systems and procedures of the aircraft, whether it be turbo prop or jet when you come to learn to fly it. From experience I'd very much suggest it makes no difference when it comes to leaning to fly an airliner whether you learned in a DA42 or a PA44.