YES. I am male, but this is how I got into hacking. Absolutely brilliant way to merge tech and play.

I can second this—I am not a woman myself, but my dear sister got into programming that way. (I did too.)

I wanted a Lego Mindstorm kit so badly as a kid, but my parents never got me one. I think my life would have been a lot different if my home situation had at least afforded me that one thing.