I did my initial training in C-150's and 152's.
We were over gross on many, if not most of those flights, and I'll bet I'm not
the only one here.

When Cessna restarted production of piston singles, many asked why they did
not bring back the venerable 152. The official reply was that it would cost as
much to build an up to date 152 as the new Skyhawks - but I'll bet they also
looked at the utility, and decided once the modern seats and avionics were in
it, it would be dangerously over gross with two adults and full fuel. Since it
has two seats, this would be a liability concern for them.

G Faris