Slightly related story, and not really trying to make a point one way or the other but:
Anyone know Moshi Monsters? I'm sure the Britfags here would. Either way, they hold contests once in a while to let children design new monsters for the online game. Last year, a winner was chosen along with a few runner-ups based on popularity. The most popular one amongst teh kids? A piece of toast with a face. Literally just a piece of toast with a face. But the comments section was filled with "Toasty is so cute!!!" and "omg I love toasty!!!!!!!". Another really popular monster is a heart with a face.
I don't know what my point is, but maybe that as adults we are really fucking picky compared to children who have their own, sometimes bizarre criteria for what is cool and what is cute, and that we shouldn't dismiss a design just because our sensibilities are different. Obviously I think a lot of the Moshi designs suck ass, but hell the kids seem to love them and the franchise is worth a shitton of money right now, so hey okay.
