Forgive my ignorance, but how would the carb heat kill an engine unless it was calibrated improperly? Way too rich? If so, it seems as though they were already running too rich. I do know a guy who, on downwind, pulled the carb heat and the engine quite but that was just a quirk of the plane.
As for the Warrior or the 152 route. It kind of depends on your situation. I learned in 172s and I really like them. I did most of the flying in a 172 with a 180 horse engine (that's a step up from normal and it does make a difference, primarily in the takeoff and climb). It is nice when you are doing pattern work. Supposedly, crosswinds are supposed to be tougher in a high-wing. It may be slightly more difficult. I did my comm and CFI in an Arrow and I really like that plane. It does what it is supposed to do.
The thing with the 172 is that you can really learn nice takeoffs and landings. With the 172 you can be cruising down the runway and get that nose wheel 3-5 inches of the ground hold it their and it flys right off. What I didn't like about the Arrow, is that you kind of have to pull it off the ground. Another thing on landings, because of the floating, the 172 is a bit more difficult to hit the spot if you are doing shorts. Basically, if you don't have your airspeed and power figured out, you will most likely over shoot. With the Arrow, you could pretty much put it down even if you didn't have your airspeed totally in check.
Stalls, in Cessnas seem to be a bit more dramatic than they do in Pipers. I find it kind of hard to a good break in a Cherokee or an Arrow. In a Cessna you can get a noticeable break.
The visibility is better for flying in the warrior. But because of the 152 you will be extra cautious with whatever you fly later on in life, because you will have to turn your plane in either direction before you cross a runway to see if someone is coming. You will have an extra awareness.
Finally, one more thing, with the 152 you can do more stuff closer to the ground. My instructor used to tell me, after I had my license, "when you are out here just try to go down the runway on just one wheel. It'll make you a better pilot." That was in a 172. I don't think I would reccomend it in an Arrow. For the most part Cessnas just seem "built to fly" better than the pipers I have flown. What I don't like about a lot of cessnas is that they tend to be underpowered. But you can get that with other planes as well.
If you are just starting to learn, or just building time and practicing, I would go with the 152. If you want to go places, I would probably go with the warrior dpending on whether or not it was worth it cost wise.
So, you can take that info and do what you want with it.