What defines a "decent pair" of skates and why do they cost $300? Wouldn't a nice pair off the shelf at less than $100 or around $50 suffice for a young kid just wanting to play hockey?
I didn't consider the maintenance aspect; the need for sharpening makes sense though.
Good skates can be baked and molded to their feet.
Cheap skates are like cheap running shoes. Yeah, they get the job done until the ill-fitted skates don't offer proper fit and support. Your kid is fine for a month, then they have welts from the cheap insoles and twisted ankles from no stability.
Just wanting to skate at the rink is one thing, practicing and chasing pucks on top of learning edge control demands proper equipment.
I didn't consider the maintenance aspect; the need for sharpening makes sense though.