Not sure i agree with that Gringo. Kids in care have a whole range of people to pander after them, actually, thats true accross the board now. Far too many people prepared to listen to whinging kids these days and thats part of the problem. kids are manipulating the system to get their own way.
My nephew wanted to go into care, coz he saw how specially treated a kid from his class was, who was in care. He wnated for nothing and got preferential treatment in class. That is plain wrong!
I don't think it's that the kids get treated more 'specially' I think people get jealous when they think that someone is getting more than them (I'm pretty sure that kid would have been jealous of things your nephew was given, does that mean he isn't allowed it?). I work with people with mental health problems (in care system) and the experiences in their life are something I would have never wanted. So if someone actually shows them love and as you say 'pander' after their needs then i'm pretty sure it's for the good of their adult life.
These kids have been negletced, some sexually abused, have parents who couldn't cope, some parents who never even wanted them.