Core stick and rudder flying skills are essential and my opinion is that the Cessna 152 is the best ab initio trainer around to achieve that. I see some types used in basic training which are really unsuitable for that purpose - even the POH of some prohibit manoeuvres required by CASA Part 61.
I get some wanting a tailwheel endorsement who have only flown a PA-28 previously and I know it will take much longer so I advise them to do some dual circuits in a 152 first to save some money.