I've had contact with one. It was a highly disappointing experiece.
I lost whatever respect I had for recreational robotics on that day.
Genetic engineering would have likely turned out an abomination, but abominations at least would teach us of the potential lying dormant within genes. Furby taught me only that androids (furdroids?)and artificial intelligence will always be pipe-dreams, much as modern PCs were only the province of science fiction until the discovery of the silicon chip and compact discs.
Maybe if they make organic circuitry someday, they can do the little buggers justice.
Designer pets than can act as computer data back-ups.
Now,that would make up for the impracticality of the jumpsuits and jetpacks future that never came to pass.