Flower, aviator84 - first solo is a confidence booster, plus the licence issuance requirements determine x amount of dual time and y amount of solo time. It's worked in the past, it'll work in the future and has no bearing in this accident.
"No bearing"? Surely this accident should at least open the discussion as to the cost-benefit of student solo, particularly quite early in training. There's little doubt that the lack of experience of the student played a significant role in the accident.
The student solo training regime comes from the days when the most complex instruction a student would get would be a red flare, and pre-dates the situation where training takes place at moderately busy regional airports.
(I went solo in less than 3, licence in 20 - didn't do me any harm)
Of course it didn't do you any harm. You're a biased sample: you lived long enough to get your licence.