Back in the day I lived in New Zealand. You go into the LHS and buy a radio. 99.9% of what is in stock radio wise was Mode 1.
I learned to fly Mode 1 and have been flying Mode 1 for greater than 20 years.
10 years ago I moved to the good old US of A. here 98% of radio's I see at the LHS is Mode 2. The last radio I got was from Tower and I specifically searched for Mode 1. There definatly was a lot less available in Mode 1 than Mode 2.
At the local club here I am the only one flying Mode 1. In fact, a couple of the people out there had never heard of mode 1 versus mode 2. LOL
Am I going to change what I have been doing for the last 20 years? No.
Pros - I will not get asked to test fly anyone's plane and make sure it is trimmed for them.
Nobody will ask to fly my planes!
Cons - I have to test fly my own planes (this I do anyway but...)

I guess what I'm saying is get a radio that feels right to you (Be it Mode 1 or mode 2), Learn the controls on your chosen mode and stick with it and don't let anyone try to talk you into changing in order to 'conform' with everyone else.
And above all, HAVE FUN!!