chris schrieb:

I sort of meant that I remember having issues with trying to remember
everything while doing a circuit - I couldn't have coped with also
having to manipulate landing gear and prop controls, not to mention
multiple engines..

That's why an instructor is with you. If all you want is to fly twins,
then the only reason to not directly learn in a twin is financial. This
is a very strong reason, though.

Of course there can be other benefits in learning to fly in a basic
airplane, like learning to fly by the seat of your pants, learning to
cope with unimproved backcountry strips and the like, but it seems that
the vast majority of students don't learn that in a 172 either.