Is samatha meditation more suited to lay people than vipassana?
Can't conclude a lot from the sutta but accrding to my personal experience as a lay buddhist,


Vipassana needs higher levels of concentration and mindfulness.
Instructions for Vipassana are little bit more complicated and difficult to follow than Samatha.
Vipassana involves using the mind to sense the bodily feelings. Mind usually wanders.
Learning Vipassana for first time requires a 10 day commitment to a retreat. But Samatha meditation can be learned at a days retreat. 


So I will say, yes. Samatha meditation more suited to lay people than Vipassana.