I've noticed that some undergraduate introductory probability textbooks and courses emphasize or seem to prefer the moment generating function $m(t) = \mathbf E(e^{tX})$ of a random variable $X$ rather than the characteristic function $f(t) = \mathbf E(e^{i t X})$. However, the characteristic function seems to have nicer properties.
Is there a reason for an undergraduate introduction to probability course to emphasize the moment generating function instead of the characteristic function? Or is the characteristic function simply better. I wonder if the characteristic function is avoided only because some students feel uncomfortable with complex numbers.