I agree completely. At twelve, I really WAS only interested in "What happens next?" But, then I went and read them again and again. And every couple years I noticed something in the books that I'd never seen there before.
Sure, young kids don't get the same things out of the books that they will when they are older, but I don't think that means they shouldn't read them.
I think it just means that they should someday read the book again and find out what they missed the first time through.
(Similarly, I remember being amazed at the social and political subtexts in Animal Farm when we studied it in highschool - I'd read it as a kid and seriously thought it was just a story about some animals being mean to each other, lol!)
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My favorite scene that never made it into the movie:
"By Elbereth and Luthien the fair," said Frodo with a last effort, lifting up his sword, "You shall have neither the Ring nor me!"
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