I think it's very important that beginning students should at least be aware that there are other styles out there, and to experience them can mean anything from getting on the tatami to train, to watching a class, a video, or reading a book.
Probably not a good idea to regularly train in two different styles when first starting out though
At my first dojo, I gradually became aware that there were other styles in Aikido by hearing the senior students and instructor bad-mouthing them. This stopped me from exploring more widely at first as I (unfortunately) believed the seniors. As soon as I plucked up the courage to try other styles, I discovered that I could learn something from all of them and that the One True Way stuff was indeed garbage
Ruth