Well it wouldn't be aviation if we all agreed all the time, what we we be able to drink beer over!
I wasn't suggesting that it can't, just that mine didn't. I do believe in starting In GA if that's what's planned, but if like me you start RA not knowing how far you will end up, it's not waisted experience, just doesn't necessarily fit what you're training towards at the time.
I should add that I ended up doing the 150hr course which the hours couldn't be used for, but either way they weren't happy to count them for me. My RA hours got me over the 'golden' 200hr mark which may have helped getting a job, who knows.