Most PPLs (of this kind) have the same sort of flying in mind, and it nearly always includes taking family and friends on jaunts around the country.
Before they can take anyone anywhere they must first get a pilots license.
Why would they want to learn in something that will not be fully applicable to what they want to do.
That is easy to answer.
The idea is to first learn the basics then move gradually on to more advanced handling skills.
Therefore it should stand to reason that learning the basics on a basic trainer would be the best choice, and it will be less expensive paying fot the basic trainer until one learns to fly properly.