I don't think those kids would enjoy programming a game even with a good kit. They want to play games, not code them, and thus why I said no amount of graphics will get them to.
That is true, although I think one of the main motivations to learning to program (at least for me and I guess many teenagers) is to have something impressive to show off to friends.
Having said that I think you are right to encourage people to use code as a "secret weapon" rather than an end in itself. It is a great "awesomeness multiplier" to other skills.
Also, what you describe is why I wrote:
http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/advice.html