This is a very interesting comment.

I particularly got a chuckle out of your aside about screening out the upgrades and think you have hit on a very important aspect of (for me, anyway) why America sucks. I finally made it to the middle class to find there's no there, there.

My childhood was an odd mix of free range/no range. I worked in the family truck farm business from age 8 on; made and handled my own cash from the age of 10 on, when we went to the city to sell at the market I roamed the market at will talking to all the adult vendors and went to the nearby mall solo to use the bathroom. My parents were hands off at school and if I wanted to win scholarships or pursue activities I had to sign myself up, and I really only got to do that after I learned to drive; I also was in charge of my college search, application process, and moving myself there. On the other hand, before I could drive, I was stuck on the farm all the time; there was certainly no hanging out with my peers after school or on the weekends. It's no wonder I don't feel I belong anywhere.

I went on too long. Thanks for the context on free range--and yes, even if I am trying to position my kids so they at least know about some opportunities, I'm trying not to push them. It annoys me when other parents orchestrate everything for their kids to the nth degree.