I know it wasn't on the list but IMHO the Tomahawk is hard to beat for the ab initio. They need to be flown properly and so basic handling skills are learned earlier and more throughly. They are roomy and comfortable with 360 degreees vis. We have found that students get to solo quicker in the PA38 than the C152. I think the visibility in the circuit with the low wings helps a lot, because your main refernece feature ie the runway is always visible, as is the aircraft you are following. Round here it is nearly always the Cessnas that do the enormous circuits especially in strong winds because every time they turn they have to use a reference feature on the landscape instead of the runway, and can then drift off into the wide blue yonder.
For the cross countries the Warrior and the Archer are difficult to beat, and in this climate a lot more stable in turbulence than the C172.
Then you can move on to the Arrow, Cherokee Six etc without having to learn a whole new aircraft.
Having said all that I think too much of a big deal is made of the high/low wing argument; a licenced pilot should be able to fly anything the licence allows them to without a fuss, so long as they understand the fuel systems!