Recreational & Family - Componants vs. Style opinions please

Thought I would throw this out there and see what people think. This will be a first bike for a 6 YO urban neighborhood so there are LOTS of other crusiers, but not a lot of kids riding cruisers (mainly mtb, bmx).

I found a what I consider really nice 20" Marin cruiser bike at the REI outlet, its a light 7005 aluminum frame with kenda tires and a good headset and bottom bracket, nice crank etc. It's a pretty cool crusier IMO. I really like the bike, but I'm a dad and what do I know.
REI Marin Crusier (http://www.rei.com/outlet/product/780514) $150 on clearance.

Then also at rei is the 20 in Novara Duster mtb. Decent quality but nothing special basically a mild upgrade over a big box bike. I've also looked around at the local bike shops at Diamondback and raleigh and even a red line but they're $100 more.

DS will be riding this bike for about 4 years then it will be handed down to his little brother. To me the crusier is the best value hands down but is it cool/stylish enough? Kids don't care about value they just want something the looks cool, heck he'd be happy with a xmart bike as he wants every bike he sits on. Opinions please.

Hard to say. A lot depends upon the kid. Generally speaking though, as he gets older he is going to want whatever his friends are riding. Personally, I would look at a BMX-style bike before that cruiser.

He may not get four years out of a bike that you buy now. My son went through four bikes between ages 7 and 11. He kept growing on me. I started him with a 24-inch mountain-bike, because I wanted him to ride trails w/me.

There is nothing wrong with putting a six year old on a cheap BMX bike. There is no difference in that Marin and a box store BMX other than the comfort bike geometry. A comfort cruiser like that does not have the geometry that is correct for learning more advanced cycling skills. That Marin has the same components as a Toys r us bike.

I found a what I consider really nice 20" Marin cruiser bike...
To me the crusier is the best value hands down but is it cool/stylish enough? Kids don't care about value they just want something the looks cool, heck he'd be happy with a xmart bike as he wants every bike he sits on.
Sounds like you answered your own question. It's not what you want, it's what he wants.

When I was 8 or 9 my mother bought a bike for me that she thought was a good value and seemed like a nice bike. I HATED IT!!!

Get the bike your son wants. If it's not a good deal or a good bike, who cares. He'll have fun riding the bike HE PICKED OUT. And fun it what it's all about.

Why not show him both and let him pick?

If you don't want your son to choose because its a surprise, I would try to find out some clues to what he wants. A cruiser bike is hit or miss.