I've got around 2000 hours teaching in Tomahawks and have found that they are the best (and most comfortable) training aircraft I have worked with at the ab-initio stage in terms of teaching studes good handling and attitude skills from go. The Tomahawk can be flown with the fingertips. It has sensible ergonomics. You can have a good look at all the gubbins under the bonnet. It also makes a good starter to move onto other Pipers later on in the training.
So, go for your flight, and make up your own mind. Take no notice of the doomsayers, many of whom have limited or no experience of flying them. Like so many myths in aviation, the ones that get bandied about about the Tomahawk are just that - myths. Some were allegedly part of a dirty tricks campaign by another manufacturer whose product was outsold many times over by the Tomahawk.
I'm the proud owner of serial number 6, the oldest in this country, and she goes like the clappers. Am soon to buy a "21st century Tomahawk" the Whitney Boomerang.
As with all aircraft, read the POH!