They thought it was a dumb question, like how could that be better than a DS??

Be aware that the game chips are really small and easy to lose on an airplane. They're flat and can easily slip between seat cushins, etc. There are various solutions to keeping this from happening so figure out what works for you. I recommend a good carry cover with slots to hold the games.

Also, we had a DS stolen once at a 5 star hotel, fast. She realized that she forgot it and it had disappeared by the time we went back. Again, there were ways of preventing this. I carry my youngests' DS with me and give it to her in the car or airplane. With my older children, I insist that they put them in their backpacks.