I always recommend to any new clients that are looking to build an application from scratch to go with what is already out there, and improve upon it. In this case I use CakePHP for all new, fresh projects that require the MVC design, rapid application development, and structure that is lacking from a completely new project. Afterall, I get to shape it and make it the way I want, Cake just keeps it clean, organized and functional.
Plus, RoR happy guys will respect PHP more when they try out Cake, because it's modeled after RoR
