I don't think the your discription is significantly different 
the thing that confuses people is that one is off (the common perception of LOW), so why are you turning the LED on.
When the example in the distribution was as you code, but without enabling pullups you would still be using an external resistor to build the circuit as using the pullup is so opaque in code it was not appropriate for what maybe the second bit of code a beginner sees. so you had the comlexity of the code, and of the circuit.
If there was a more transparent syntax for pullups I think the balance would tip to what you suggested, a simpler build at first, against slightly more complicated syntax.
It kind of mirrors pin 13 with the flashing LED - you can just plug an LED in without worrying about resistors. Its easier at first as some physical complexity is hidden, but you then need to understand whats going on on the board to go further - if you want to go further you are more likely to have the motivation to do it.