> Even for searching for your own kids gender categories are useful thing.
I dunno, when I've searched for gifts for children I know (and, really, the same thing goes for adults), I've usually had some idea of what I was looking for which was more useful than a gender category.
You two are talking past each other. The way it was before, you both could do what you wanted: either use the gender filter or not use the gender filter. Now there's no choice.
If the child is too young to express a preference, you don't need to choose between (eg) dolls or trucks - baby toys need to be primarily something that can't hurt the baby. If the child is old enough to express a preference, you can ask the child or their parents.
I have used the gender filter on many occasions to give me ideas or help discover toys my boys might like. Christmas and birthdays are brutal trying to find something engaging and fun for fast-growing kids with changing tastes. So it sucks that that option is gone.
Dedicated toys review sites seem to typically just be shills for toy companies and conventions.
I dunno, when I've searched for gifts for children I know (and, really, the same thing goes for adults), I've usually had some idea of what I was looking for which was more useful than a gender category.