I agree that it takes broad shoulders and patience to be in this hobby today. I also agree that it takes cubic dollars (and a fair amount of square feet!) to build something complex enough to make things interesting for you and your kids. Compared to video games, touch-screen tablets etc., the entertainment value for the dollar is low. But it's a real, hands-on 3D pursuit. It's your money and you should be satisfied. But before I shipped back $800 worth of merchandise, I would just draw the beard on the fireman with a brown marker!
If you can live without the latest features, Lionel made some very high-quality trains in the early 1950s which are well-adapted to sharp curves. Diesels run better than steam locos, and there's even an inexpensive and straightforward way to run two trains on the same track which can make for real excitement! It comes down to expectations, and how well the various approaches to this hobby fulfill those expectations.
