ALK, I think you are right to a degree. I tell new shooters today, that mostly compete with a semi-auto, to get a nice L-frame or full lugged 14 to start with a revolver.
You can still get neck hold at 50 yards if the gun has a tall set of sights.
They can shoot the gun in the open and Distinguished match until they feel they need/want a better gun.
There are more advantages to a full blown PPC gun than just the weight and rib. Some of it has to do with ease of use and keeping the shooter relaxed during the match.
In the old days, at the bigger events, the PPC 1500--150 round match was shot one phase at a time. Match 1-24 rounds, stop,score targets, let other relays shoot. Match 2 -18 rounds repeat same etc.
Matches are not shot like that anymore. When you walk to the line you have to be prepared to shoot all the matches back-to-back. The only time you have to reload speed loaders/magazines or make sight changes, or blacken your sights, or anything else, is the time it takes for everyone to change their targets. A "good" range office will hold up a little bit for the 50 yard phase to give shooters a minute to put down their mat adjust sights etc.
Believe me there is nothing worse for your heart rate than trying to count clicks on a factory rear sight, even if you mark the spot it should end at. Especially when you are older, wearing shooting glasses that DONT have bifocals to see what you are doing. Hence the tri-set front or rear sight. One second-click- you are done. Match over-click, back to normal. Really a BIG advantage. Same with speed loaders and loading blocks. I finally went to just 28-29 loaded loaders/magazines. Just way easier and relaxing than rushing to do everything.
Of course, I appreciate the competitors that shoot plain revolvers/autos, don't change sight position or smoke their sights. They do not suffer the time constraints. Unfortunately, they rarely win either. In older days there was only one class of gun. I was like that too at first, thought I would set the world on fire with my 4" Python. And in the 70's at local matches, I did ok. I was actually doing it just to improve my skills for work. No IDPA or IPSC in those days in Iowa at least. Then got caught up in the "competition thing" which was a great hobby and a lot of fun and friends over 35 years of shooting.
