If you HAVE to go the electric route, AND you want to encourage your youngster to pursue percussion, by all means get a kit that sets up like a real kit. Drum pads like the Yamaha are great 'application-specific' tools - are you extremely space limited, portability trumps all, etc.

There's an intangible feel to a traditional kit set-up that the young drummer wants to emulate, and you just can't get that on a pad.

+1 for the Alesis, or any other e-kit that mimics a real drum layout.

But to answer the other question, yes, you (or he) will end up buying another kit down the road, no matter what. A smitten e-kitter will graduate to an acoustic kit sooner or later. Face it, Mom and Dad.

In agreement with Pebble. The drum pads are toomuch of a compromise in the interest of portability and size. More of a fun toy than an actual instrument.

Definitely get the DM6. I have the DM10 Studio and couldn't be happier with that choice.

Shown in your link is the Roland TD-11K-S. This is a real bargain, but at double the Alexis price - about $799 at rock bottom on eBay. It is for real in terms of use. I just donated mine to the church here, but plan to pick up another one and bring it back with me. This is suitable to hold him off for a long time. I have to admit that you will hear them to some extent, so he'll need some isolation nevertheless. But in terms of a real sound, they are quite good and can be gigged without issue. Here's mine when it was set up in the apartment. My wife can paint while I'm practicing, so the level of sound from the pads is not too bad. He can probably use it to practice for a decade or more. You might even get into yourself!

PS - It comes with two toms up, but I don't always use the second pad.