I understand that the main purpose of study visa is to go for studying and not immigration but let me explain the situation a bit better. The reason why I didn't wanted to apply for work permit right away is that I know I'm trying to learn computer science and it'd be really hard for me to find work right away if I go the work permit route. I also wanted to experience the country for a relatively long period of time and I thought that going for a study permit would be my best bet since I can get quality education and experience the country myself and then later decide if I want to apply for express entry or not.
Also, I'd probably be needing an offer for employement which I think employers would be more hesitant to give to someone who lives outside Canada.
It is going to be difficult for you to receive an offer letter without a work permit. A lot of employers can only offer a letter of employment when someone has a work permit.
That being said, most people use the study path to immigrate to Canada. The main reason is, with your foreign education, you will not be able to compete with those who have Canadian education.
With studies in Canada, you will be eligible for a work permit after you graduate and depending on its length, you have a higher chance of finding a job in the field you studied in Canada
I had same goal as you. First thing is to study then apply for pgwp. You will have plenty of time to think if Canada will be your new home as living in a foreign country is not always easy