I am probably way behind in the thread as I got tired of reading it.
The thing I have to add is when my grand daughter goes caching with me (she's 5) its often the little cheap toys or what some would consider trash that she wants. She leaves what I give her which is mostly new in the package items, but when something is not in the cache she will leave "Something for the kids". Man I wish I was five again and some of you adults could learn a lesson from her. Sometimes the value to an adult has nothing to do with the value to a kid.
The ohter thing as stated above not everyone has the money others do to leave equal trade items. I for one just care that they trade. Its for the kids as my grand daughter says!