Personally, I prefer the Pipers. (No numbers or science behind it, just the feeling). I did a few hundred hours in a relatively new Archer last year which was lovely to fly- but the air conditioning unit meant its useful load was 0.
But the Skyhawk has some definite advantages:
I always feel that the 172 has much better takeoff performance.
Two doors is certainly better- no need to unload a passenger or climb over someone when you've forgotten the chocks.
The 172 seems easier to get in and out of than a low wing aircraft, particularly when your knees and hips have started to go.
The C172S that I fly has built in cup holders. Enough said.
Something to be wary of though, all the aircraft I've flown that are fitted with G1000 have a much lower payload due to the weight of the avionics. And when something goes wrong, you'd better hope that someone nearby is qualified/ knowledgable in how to fix it.