man, feeling bad for the OP, now that you mention it. poor kid opened a can of worms without even the slightest intention.
so to comment on your original question, Jeremy: glider flying will, without a doubt, make a better pilot out of you. it will also help you move through a powered private license much quicker, in my opinion. the one thing it comes down to, as you might find later in life, is money. if money is not an issue, go for it. if it is, save it up for the powered stuff. the costs of flying are rising every year and you'll need every cent if money is tight.
and if you can take anything from all this arguing on your thread (some i am responsible for, sorry), please take this: listen with an open mind to those who have more experience than you. heck, listen to everyone in aviation with an open mind! i've even learned things from my students when back when i was teaching. you can always make up your own mind in the end, but some little piece of information or a story you hear might just save your life one day. and lastly, best of luck to you!