> These toys-that-make-feelgood-news are not about kids but adults playing politics (that they are compassionate unlike the other tribe).

Notwithstanding the tone of the article being "feel-good" I really don't know how you make the jump you made here - lots of research supports the idea that representation matters.

Sure kids will happily play with rocks and cardboard tubes, but if they are playing with dolls they will absolutely notice if they are none of the options are much like themselves. It's hardly a big conceptual jump to see how a kid in a wheelchair would like to have a doll/action figure/whatever also with a wheelchair.