As the owner of a 33' Hunter, I'll chime in. If your primary concerns are comfort the Hunters tend to be beamier so the accommodation below is a bit more spacious. Having said that, they tend to be on the light side and while I sail mine on Lake Ontario, I don't know that I would be in a rush to take her out on the big, big lake.
The cockpit area is on the smaller side. (I remove the wheel when at the dock to gain a little more space.)
If your looking at this from a financial point to view, I would go with the Pearson because they have a great resale value but if it is to gain experience, have some fun and get a boat that is easy to handle....you can't go wrong with the Hunter.
Go to HunterOwners.com for some insight and advice.
Dave