Very well thought out and written Tow. As a parent of an 17 year old, I've thought about this alot. For years it was like pulling teeth to get him outside. I had to make certain times in the evening that were his only time to play video games or on the interweb. Almost every time his arguement was, "But all my friends aren't playing outside, they are playing online, so I don't have anyone to play with." The shitty part is, he wasn't lying. So alot of his outdoor activities were either him playing solo, or him and I doing something. Of course I had an obstacle that his mother would let him veg out all weekend on her visitation weekends. In the end I think I have won the battle as he is rarely sitting on the couch these days. He plays prolly as much as I do, but it's usually at night, or when he's killing time waiting to go out with his buddies.
Zero, I think you are missing the point. Maybe you are young or maybe you just don't get it. Everything that Tow brought up is a HUGE issue in my book. There is a reason that the obesity rate in the US is sickening, especially the child obesity. The reason is exactly what Tow's concerns are. If said child is in front of the TV for 12+ hours a day, when the hell do they get exercise? Not at most schools, because P.E. classes keep getting dumped across the nation. When I was in high school, it was MANDATORY to take a conditioning ed class. Now kids can get that credit by taking "alternative" classes. Our "society" is crumbling and things like Home are only going to make it worse.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it is all directly related to video games and television. As Chili brought up, in some places it just isn't safe to let your kid go roaming for hours like we did. But this new wave of technology, Home, WOW, Second Life, etc is defininately adding to the growing problems. I know quite a few kids personally that have very weak or no social skills.
edit: BTW I think this is the best topic posted here ever, even if it is a little serious.