There still is a major difference between the quality of the Lil' Giant trike and any Walmart/Target bike. The Lil' Giant trike will hold together for years and should retain a very decent resale value. The department store bikes have many plastic parts in major locations (headsets, seat collars, and bottom brackets) which can not be repaired without spending more than originally purchased on the bike.

Also please remember that the department store bikes are rarely built correctly which makes them very unsafe to ride. Would you want a child on a bike without a properly installed stem?