Agreed, I'm pretty much a product of that growing up in the 60's.
Clever marketing targeted at kids who are sucked in by the colorful cartoon images on the box, a toy of some kind, and lots of refined sugar and who knows what. But doing a little research and being a history buff, I can tell you that this was not how these "cereals" originated, and you are right on the money about the oats, millet, wheat, rice, and other whole grain cereals being much better for you.
Interesting read;
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