Let's say that you can't always play with your kids, so sometimes it's nice that they have some toys to play with...By the way, my kids are just around with friends and they are playing with.. Playmobil (whereas there 5 ipads available)

Yes some cases it was bad/lazy parenting. A few times I saw whole families that would each have their own tablet with minimal interaction with each other.

But those were extremes most families would take away the tablet during the meal or after. Kids tend to get crazy in anticipation of the food, the tablet calmed them.