Hi Emz - interesting thread! Iam an only child and was very definite that i didn't want my child to be one too. I've 2 now and really want another, we'll just have to wait and see. I found it very lonely in my childhood and although i was materialistically spoiled my parents weren't that into me (I think i have "accident" stamped on my forehead even though my mum swears i wasn't... but they had been married 9 years!). I don't think 'cruel' is the right word but then i wouldn't say it was 'ideal' to be an only child. I think everyone has a right to chose without judgment on how many kids they have. I had this conversation with a work friend of my DH around a year ago and she was completely the opposite in that she was the youngest of 3 and was so sick of all the fighting that she only had one child, I guess it all hinges on the individual's experiences as there's quite a few earlier posts where people have really liked being only children.
All the best in whatever you decide.
Julie x