"toy stores are deliberately and consciously avoided precisely because parents are annoyed at the effects"

This. I have a few kids of my own and make a point to never go with them to toy stores - they go crazy from looking at all the possible options and end up being unhappy because no matter what we end up buying, there is a gazillion things we ended up not getting.

Much better to get ideas from wherever (window shopping, other kids, forums, etc) and buy online - free no hassle / screaming delivery.

Even if you end up getting not the "perfect" toy they would have picked, it's a superior shopping experience for the adult.