For example I bought this kit, which appears to be made of all-kinds of single-use bits. But when actually building is I discovered not so. For example, the feed of the walker are actually the same as the bodies of the Droids, some of the joints are re-purposed guns, and there are just dozens of little clever things, such that as you build following the instructions there is moment after moment of discovery “Oh, you can do THAT with that part…”

And then my roommate linked me to this which completely puts paid to the notion that single use parts are actually single use. You will not be sorry for clicking on that link.

Eh, you know, I’m not using my imagination here. B/c of course you’re right — “here is a piece of the Millennium Falcon” can become the chest-plate of a battling war-mech without too much effort.

1) It’s fun and useful to follow instructions and put things together. Imitatio!

2) It’s fun to ignore instructions and build whatever you want — especially with the terrific pieces that you get with the customized sets.

3) Even if you don’t break down the assembled Legos, it’s more fun to build an Indiana Jones or Harry Potter castle than it is to buy one that’s pre-assembled.

I think 2 and 3 are basically incontestable, but 1 is the crux, right? But I think it’s the most important!

Aywhoo, my son gets some of these branded sets, but really when we play With Legos it’s all about using you imagination to create something new. Branded Lego sets haven’t changed that.