jet2us:
The Duchess is very easy to fly but IMHO it's a little too easy for a good basic MEP trainer - the Seneca is harder to fly well and therefore better to train on (plus it doesn't need those silly carb heat levers!). But if you can get a Duchess at an advantageous rate ...
At Sarum we have several recently qualified "MEP"s who team-up to do shared trips; by doing this you benefit from all the nav legs but only pay for (and log) the ones you fly - this is a very good way to build experience.
HFD