I eagerly agree that an experienced instructor, and adequate time for extensive instruction (= student pays) is the very best tool for good pilot training, and beyond that, the aircraft need be reliable and durable, and less importantly of a particular type. I know of one fellow who went zero to multi day night PPL, only ever flying the Aztec he bought - but, he spent the time, and had a good instructor!
All of the training I do is advanced type conversion training, no ab initio. Therefore, I defer to Instructors in the more established form to select there preferred type. However, I will say that it is not the role of the instructor to select a plane they like to fly, in which to train, it is their job to train well in what they are given to train in, within their skill set.
150 vs 172? Both fine, the 150 trained pilot will catch onto the 172 with more ease than the other way around, but not by much.... Training in a 170B or 180 would be better though!