> And at their age there is few other equal things that can make or break their future as being accepted by their peers.

Hard disagree to this idea as justification for purchasing something for a kid.

The most useful gift that my parents gave me is a cultivated disregard for what is popular. It's not that I go out of my way to alienate my peers—I try to get along well with everyone and it mostly works—but the habit of wanting to participate with the crowd is one that I've watched hamper many a life, and the lack of that habit has allowed me to get a lot further in my career and in my personal and social life than most of my peers.