Armac,
I am not talking from personal experience as I went north.
Is going south a good idea? It all depends on what you want to do for a living. If you want to built time and then come back to fly in Canada, it may not be the best plan. The logic is quite simple; Weather. Down south the weather is easier to work with then up here. The reality is simple, wether your plan is to fly for the airlines, charter, or corporate the sooner you learn to live with the Canadian winter the better. The second part to my ligic is most of the people who will help you getting a good job in life you will meet at the lower level of aviation. Contacts are everything in our business.
On the other hand, if your life plan is to spend time flying VFR in a tropical paradise, go for it. Personally I know where I will retire… Roratonga, flying tourists…. But for now, winter is here and I have to go fly.
Hope this helps,
Dan