Been wanting to get my kids into this as they get older, I’d expect Lego to do better.
It's like Lego, but much better. Lego is shit these days; most kids use them as 3D jigsaw puzzles with instructions. The creativity is gone. The blocks are designed to build a Star Wars this or a Marvel that, and not generic like when we were kids.
On the other hand, a $20 Engino set lets you build almost anything, including complex mechanical linkages of the type Lego always wanted from Technics but never quite figured out how to do right. I spent around $100, so I can build really big and complex things and never run out of pieces. That's like 5 Lego sets.
Only downside of Engino is lack of decent programming environment, but an HN parent should be able to integrate a Micro:bit easily enough, which then eats Lego for breakfast.
I have been involved in the Lego MOC and Alt Build community recently via rebrickable.com and I disagree that the creativity is gone.
Also, tools like webrick.com make it possible to build stuff without paying the Lego markup. I really think that the Lego system is something the whole world owns at this point due to patents being expired and it should be that way.
One of the things elementary school kids like about it is that it's possible to build big things.
Younger than Engino, and I like normal blocks (wooden or foam) and Magnatiles.
I wasn't familiar with webrick. That's something to perhaps explore at some point.