I don't know why these goofballs make suggestions like that. It seems to be a side hobby for some experienced (or maybe not experienced at all) pilots to recommend inappropriate planes to beginners. They think just because they can fly them that a newbie can. We had one that worked at the LHS that recommended to a buddy of mine that he buy a Blade SR for his very first heli. No instructor, no sim, he'd be able to fly it no problem. I know the guy and he's something of a savant with flying, so maybe he's one of the ones that simply can't understand the struggles a newbie goes through.

Rant over, if you have a look at the stickies at the top of the page there's lots of good beginner info there. Your best first plane really depends on what your plans are for the hobby. If you want to fly glow powered sport and scale planes, go ahead and get a glow powered trainer and join a club. It will fly better, handle the wind better, and will be bigger and easier to see which will let you build your skills better. If park flyers are the plan, the above mentioned Sensei has a good reputation, as does the Hobby Zone Super Cub.