I was told when learning how to fly that "PIC non instructing" time looks better than a lot of "dual given" time. Now listening to what everybody is saying, it looks like this statement might be false.
Using your current situation (privately flying a 172) that statement is completely false. I've been at two airlines and they all want to see that you've been
employed at an aviation company. They want to see that another company has given you the responsibility of operating their aircraft. Instruction, Pipeline, 135 cargo, whatever...