Most reading this blog will be more than comfortable with semi automatic handguns. They're not particularly difficult to run and anyone even mildly interesting in shooting will be able to operate them without issue. And, of course, if someone owns a firearm, they should be responsible enough to know how to operate it safely. I completely agree.
However, take a new shooter out onto the range and most will have a much easier time operating a revolver. It's simple- load the cylinder, close the cylinder and you're ready to go. No magazines to worry about, no safeties to remove, and a long double action trigger to reduce the possibility of an ND/AD. When shooting, revolvers more forgivable of bad grip versus a semi auto (no slide recoiling backwards to bust open thumbs, no problems with limp wristing). Unloading and rendering "safe" is easy too. Open cylinder, dump brass. Done.
For someone who wants or needs a gun for home defense, but won't dedicate much time to practicing with it, the revolver's simplicity is a huge benefit. There are many who fit this description--want a gun, but aren't honestly going to dedicate a lot of time/effort to becoming especially skilled or proficient with them. Yes, it's frustrating but it's true. I know many good, law abiding non-gun people who fall into this camp, and quite honestly, they will be much better off with a revolver that they can operate comfortably than with a more modern, "better" semi automatic that they can't.
Some preppers also keep handouts around for friends/family in case of TEOTWAWKI. Unless your friends/family are familiar with firearms, I would recommend having revolvers around for any handout handguns. They're just a lot easier to teach people to operate safely versus a semi auto - a minute of instruction and they'll know all that there is to know. It's not that semi autos are that difficult, it's just seems that many non-gun people have a harder time learning to operate them.
Steer away from airweight j-frames for "noob" friendly guns; they recoil quite a bit and the short barrel and generally poor sights make them harder to shoot. You want something with some heft to it--good ol' steel--to help mitigate felt recoil, and something with a longer barrel (3 to 5 inches) and decent sights. And go with .38 special (or a .357 and load with .38s), not something silly like .44 magnum.
