With a whole 2 hours on Cessnas, and none at all on Archers, I can't really compare the two. But as for high-wing vs low-wing, and their relative safety, it all depends on what you're used to.
The Super Cub has far lower cross-wind limits (both demonstrated and practical) than the Warrior. But by the end of a period of a couple of months during which I'd flown it almost every day, from an airfield with only one runway (well, two actually, but they were parallel so that didn't help cross-wind ops) I was far more capable of landing it in a cross-wind than I've ever been in the Warrior, which I've rarely flown more than once a week, and usually fly from an airfield with 3 different runways to choose from.
If a 172 is the right type of aircraft, then go for it! (BlokeInA172 doesn't have quite the same ring to it though....)
FFF
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