As for Thomas provoking a lifelong interest in trains, I think it will more good in the long run. My interest in trains began when I was 8 or 9 yrs. old and got that first Tyco train set for Christmas (a Burlington GP-20 and six cars.) It made me start to notice the Southern Rwy. trains comming through town, and when the 4501 showed up, I was hooked. Back then, seems like everyone got an electric train at one point or another - hey, they were the high tech toys of the day. I'll bet only a small percentage of all those people grew up to be "railfans", yet when you talk to the ones who didn't, they have fond memories of their trainsets. With the hordes of young children comming out to see Thomas when he arrives in town (yes, I've experienced this phenomenom), I'm sure it will spark a lifelong interest for trains in a few of them, at least enough to keep this hobby alive.