You do get some weight savings and a wider aperture, but from what I understand, even on sale, you'll pay more than full price of the Canon lenses (and lose the half macro capability on the 85). Is that worth the difference when most people agree Canon's bodies are providing better ergonomics, a lower price and slightly lower weight? You could say, "Canon doesn't have ibis on the RP or R8," but we are talking about beginners who need to learn about proper technique - that's going to be more difficult when ibis allows them to be sloppy and have their elbows out like a bird. I guess if someone was absolutely convinced they need IS the 85 has it, but while the 28 doesn't, do you really need it for 28? I'm not sure a well informed beginner is going to choose Sony's options. Where Sony has the advantage is social media presence, which, in that case, there's not much point discussing because if someone will believe everything without their own research...
In my neck of the woods, and doing a quick search just now (I've only looked at the prices at a couple of camera stores):
Canon RF 28/2.8 A$495 versus Sony FE 28/2 $508.
Canon RF 85/2 A$887 versus Sony FE 85/1.8 A$706.
Canon R8 A$2,184 versus ... I'm not sure Sony has a direct competitor to the R8, does it? The Sony A7C II is perhaps the closest thing(?), and that is A$2,651. Otherwise, you'd have to look at a second-hand Sony body. (For comparison, I see the Nikon Z5 for A$2,178, and the Panasonic Lumix S5 II for A$2,106.)
So, at least where I am, the Sony lenses (combined) would cost you a bit less, and weigh a bit less, than the Canon lenses (and the Sony lenses would give you a little more aperture while the Canon lenses would give you hgiher maximum magnification and IS in the case of the 85mm - although if our comparison includes A7C II versus R8 then the IS on the 85mm is offset against the IBIS in the A7C II). Once you factor in a full frame body the Canon setup would be cheaper though, at least unless you were willing to buy second-hand (and I haven't tried to compare the prices of second-hand Canon and second-hand Sony bodies). However, once you are in the Sony system, there are a variety of relatively small, light and affordable lenses, particularly when you factor in the third party options (and there are a wide variety of those, including particularly small and light but plasticky Samyang "tiny series" lenses to moderate aperature but all metal Sigma i series lenses, among many others). And looking at higher end first-party lenses, I see, for example, Canon RF 70-200/2.8L IS A$4,068 versus Sony 70-200/2.8 GM II OSS A$3,188, Canon RF 24-70/2.8L IS A$3,452 versus Sony 24-70/2.8 GM II A$2,737, Canon RF 50/1.2L A$3,953 versus Sony 50/1.2 GM A$2,543, and Canon EF 35/1.4L II A$3,213 versus Sony 35/1.4 GM A$1,806. So, if our theoretical beginner ends up gettting hooked on photography and starts buying more lenses, I think it is reasonable to think the lenses would end up costing quite a bit less, and weighing less too (I haven't stated weights above but you can do the comparisons), with the Sony system.
As for ergonomics, as someone who shot Canon for many years, I do like the feel of them compared to similar level Sony cameras, eg Canon R6 and R6II versus Sony A7 IV . That said though, personally I don't find the difference that great. For example, while I like the feel of the Canon R6 and R6II a bit more than the Sony A7 IV, I don't find them that different and I don't have any problem with the Sony. YMMV.
To be clear, I am not predicting doom for Canon. I am happy to accept Canon knows the market well and is making good choices with a view to maximimising its profit, which is what it exists to do. Nor I am saying the Sony system is unequivocally better than the Canon system, eg Canon offers some lenses like the 28-70/2L and the 100-300/2.8L IS which don't have equivalents, so if those lenses are useful to you then that gives the Canon system a signficant advantage (although the Sony system has some lenses which don't have equivalents in the Canon system too, eg the Tamron and Samyang 35-150mm f/2-2.8 lenses). However, I do think there are reasons why some well informed beginners might choose Sony over Canon.