JJ
The bottom line is money - if you can afford to learn and subsequently only ever run a 44 (or equivalent/better) then go for it. I bought, learned and hour built in a 22 because it was very cheap compared with a 44 but, I believe, it also taught me a lot more about what was going on around the machine in flight. However, I soon upgraded and my 22 rating lapsed many years ago, but I still miss it: slow and cramped, but highly manoevreable and great fun <sigh>.
TTB