mydata, I think your instructor is absolutely right.
I too trained at LBA but my instructor always taught me to "fly the lights"
I then had a panic when, returning from a solo nav ex, I found 32/14 closed due to a burst tyre and was offered 09 with significant cross wind (no PAPIs on 09 for those who dont know LBA) This was only the second aproach I had ever made without the aid of PAPIs and I found it very daunting at the time. (especailly as the approach seems to take you through the bedroom and landing of the house at the end of 09)
I think that to blindly train students to use PAPIs and give no other approach training is poor practice, it not only makes it dificult to then fly into places where there are no PAPIs but it also has a significant negative effect on both glide approaches and PFLs
I subsequently started flying from an airfield with no PAPIs and paid for several extra lessons of circuits untill I felt confident to make the approach without any help.
I now find that I can use either method depending on circumstances, but like all aids to flying you need to be able to do the basics first. After that use the PAPIs if you like but keep in practise without them as well.: