Having been in the position to observe the footwear that younger kids wear to school ... cheap sneakers, "fashion" pseudo-athletic shoes, and the ilk are often the daily wear. Many of the little girls, not so much the little boys, wear "fun" shoes that have minimal support, poor construction, but are "cute" and cheap. Being bought too big to "grow into" is another pattern. I've seen this since my oldest, now in her late teens, was in nursery school ... and it continues. Not an economic choice, either, as the parents can often afford better; they simply don't see the point, and the kids want the "fun" trendy footwear.
Soccer cleats can be picked up for $15 at our local sporting goods stores; baseball cleats similarly. Shinguards ... $7.50 a pair. Which is why soccer is growing in popularity, from anecdotal evidence - it's relatively inexpensive to kit the kids out, and the overall costs of participating, at the houseleague level, is quite low.