172 - you are protected all around the holding pattern on both sides at initial (joining) hold altitude (otherwise you would only be able to join the hold from the holding side?) so 'obstacles' are not really a consideration. It is just VERY untidy (in my opinion) to fly through the inbound radial and makes it sooo much harder, so yes, I would 'correct'. I think in your 172 in a 'howling crosswind', if you wished to have a chance of 'catching' the radial......................
