Depends on what you mean by "do better", eh? Do we want somebody to get a cap-n-ball revolver and shoot it a couple times a year, then after several years put it up on the shelf, or do we want to foster active participation in some area of black powder shooting on a regular, continuous basis, hopefully with that person being active on voting in favor of all shooting sports?
So if "cleaning" is harming the hobby then we should all be recommending inexpensive, stainless, inlines.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/firearms/black-powder-firearms/black-powder-in-line-rifles|/pc/104792580/c/553829580/sc/571854780/i/104533380/cva-wolf-northwest-cal-bp-rifle/1786323.uts. Unscrew the plug, clean it like a modern rifle, and if you don't get to it right away, or don't get all the water out, no worries for the most part.
Yet I'm not sure how many new persons are simply yearning to punch paper and burn powder, let alone are balking at cleaning. Maybe we should find out what got them interested? There is a difference between the person who saw a classic western movie, or a TV series like Hell On Wheels, and wants a revolver, compared to a fellow who went to a living history event, or happened to see a rifle or musket being fired at a range. I think we might agree that the objective is to get the new person from spectating and "that looks like fun" to actually shooting and "Wow, that was fun; Can't wait to do that again".
So with that in mind, I think the new person's interests should be considered. If the person simply wants to plink at the range, and enjoys the bang and the smoke, then of course they should get something like an inexpensive Pietta with a brass frame, and shoot only moderate or light loads.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/firearms/black-powder-firearms/black-powder-revolvers|/pc/104792580/c/553829580/sc/571854780/i/567338580/pietta-model-confederate-navy-caliber-black-powder-revolver/740536.uts . I own three, bought many years ago, and they really surprised me at how accurate they were at 25 feet.
. If they want something more durable, they should get a steel framed 1858 Remington (imho).
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/firearms/black-powder-firearms/black-powder-revolvers|/pc/104792580/c/553829580/sc/571854780/i/567338580/pietta-model-new-army-caliber-black-powder-revolver/731695.uts . Nothing wrong with either for plinking, and the latter is a bit more serious and can be upgraded to a cartridge cylinder for "cowboy loads". If they have the time and skill to finish a kit, there is also a caplock single shot from Traditions.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/firearms/black-powder-firearms/black-powder-pistols|/pc/104792580/c/553829580/sc/571854780/i/104503680/traditions-kentucky-pistol-kit/1646505.uts .
If the person saw a long rifle, or a half-stock, or a CW rifled musket being fired, and that's what got them curious enough to start asking questions, and especially if they actually got a chance to shoot such..., that's what they should be encouraged to do (imho). Especially if they want to hunt deer, and/or the local matches are for long guns as a general rule.
I don't think getting the person who wants to shoot longrifles to buy an 1858 Remmington and starter kit, and then later to drop another $550 for a caplock, longrifle, is the way to approach the newbie. If the person gets into flinters or CW rifled muskets, they will be laying out more than $1000 just to get "started". From what I've seen, the majority of black powder "shooters" (note not "hunters") fall into one of two groups, sorta like two siblings that get along with each other. The ones that really like revolvers and single shot handguns..., and the folks that like traditional long guns. I think that the newbie who wants to shoot revolvers will gravitate in that direction, and the ones that want to shoot long guns will gravitate in that direction. Cleaning notwithstanding.
LD