Many newbies don't consider the power of BTC for what you described - you can rest assured knowing that your investment won't be in vain for the years to come.
Newbies need to hear a lot from the ones that did a lot of mistakes in the past and also to the one that have profited from holding BTC and are still holding in the present. Because hearing mistakes of the others will direct them to doing the right decisions of investing in the market and that's through holding BTC first. Everyone is free to hold any altcoin that they want but hoping that these guys won't commit the same mistake as I did in the past for selling too early.
You are right about it being a good choice to take, but more analysis is needed for a newbie to understand why it's good for him.
Always apply the DYOR that we're telling them and they'll be able to have a conclusion why holding BTC is for their good before jumping and diversifying into another altcoin.