I fly mode 2 as most of us do in the US...the arugument that mode 1 is better because one surface is on the right thumb and another surface is on the left thumb just doesn't hold water for me....because unless you have a mix...the surfaces are isolated anyway....
If a newbie were to ask what I reccommend then I'd say mode 2....because that is what the majority of people fly in the US, that way if you had an emergency while flying ie a bee stinging you, or dirt in your eyes then you can yell for help and another flyer could save your airplane.....
If I were in europe...well I'd still fly mode 2 because I was taught that way...but I'd tell the newbie to fly mode 1
Good flyin to all