I've flown in both PA28 and C172, and I much prefer the cessnas. The main difference is the interior space - the PA28 just feels very cramped. Also the systems are simpler on the cessna - gravity fed fuel, "both" selector, no fuel pumps. This is good because it means less to go wrong from a maintenance standpoint, and less for the pilot to forget. The earlier cessnas have manual flaps which work the same as on the pa28. Also the PA28 only has a single door which I feel is a major safety issue. What happens if the aircraft ends up on its side? Will you be able to break the window or climb through the baggage door before you burn to death? And the lack of ground visibility in the pa28 is a major issue if you will be doing a lot of sightseeing flights.
The only advantage I can see for the pa28 is that they tend to be a little faster than the 172s. Also it's easier to refuel with the low wing.