I like that you said "significant number" and your example was one person, you.

I think with kids and loot boxes, it's not an issue of people should spend money how they want, but more about being left out.

If it was one game and one kid, loot boxes sure, it's a bit of harmless fun. But as soon as there are a bunch of kids, and one kid has a better item, every kid has to have the better item. And it's all blind luck who gets what,unless you spend everything you have