Between SS and SL, I'd pick SL for a novice lifter pretty much any day. It's less imbalanced, promotes more practice at lighter weights, and the tendency towards slower progression is good for learning and developing consistency. I don't think power cleans for a rank novice are a great idea. I'm not so worried about the lifter getting hurt from them, but they're a very technical movement, and at that stage your power will increase just from squats and deadlifts without even worrying about specific power exercises.
I don't highly rate either program. They're easy to deal with as go-to programs, but I think they're honestly pretty average as cookie-cutter programs, and I'm yet to find an occasion in which I'd find either program appropriate when dealing with individuals. If I knew I was going to be training someone who's never lifter before, and I was going to be dealing with them for at least 6 months, I'd probably structure the first 1-2 months around skills and drills, potentially not even touching a barbell in that time (with squats in particular, there's a lot I'd like someone to master before they worry about external loads), then spend 2-4 months focused on hypertrophy (generally in the 2-3x8-12 range) with the main lifts (which would mean something similar to the PTC program), then finally move into max strength and/or power in the final 1-2 months.