I read a lot of reviews about this and many other bikes, and there is a huge variety of opinion! For me a 5-8 year old does not need disc brakes, they are over kill to the point of maybe being hazardous. Also these are small light humans just getting started, so the additional weight of suspension forks for most children who simply just want to gain confidence and enjoy their bike is not necessary. I say this because having a lighter bike on most of the terrain they are riding is more important and increases the responsiveness . I approached the gear situation a similar way, and several gears are too much, they need just 3 or 4 at the most. Yes the twist 4 speed requires a bit of effort, but my 5 year old boy adjusted to it completely after a couple of rides.
In conclusion I can fully endorse this bike, it’s extremely well thought out, balanced, confidence inspiring and in my opinion beautifully engineered and good value for money.