I personally see it as a trade-off.
Young pawns are less skilled and less likely to gain very high skill levels, but they don't develop natural health issues and are more likely to survive infections and diseases. They're great for basic jobs like hauling, cleaning and stonecutting (because these jobs only depend on health, not skills) as well as a natural choice for soldiers (spray weapons basically ignore shooting skill anyway), as they're more likely to survive being badly damaged.
Young pawns are less skilled and less likely to gain very high skill levels, but they don't develop natural health issues and are more likely to survive infections and diseases. They're great for basic jobs like hauling, cleaning and stonecutting (because these jobs only depend on health, not skills) as well as a natural choice for soldiers (spray weapons basically ignore shooting skill anyway), as they're more likely to survive being badly damaged.