"Picture this: prospective parents excitedly clicking through an online catalogue, ticking off the optimal mix of traits for their yet-to-be-conceived child".

Hope not. It is still great to see that your child, or grandchild, looks a bit like you. Maybe that is pride or vanity and needs to make way for a better future for the child. Fair enough.
Many parents still don't have the ultra sound to discover the sex of the child.
Maybe that would be a part of the choice.
There would be a few things I wouldn't want to pass on, but I am getting closer to the age of wisdom now, not a 25 yo with the attitudes etc of that age and time.
A new age of evolution, not natural selection though.

but a particular kind of girl -- 'I want to go shopping with her

OMG. I would imagine it gives cold chills to all the girls who were tomboys like myself that mothers wanted to dress up in frilly clothes. Don't get me wrong--I love the femmy stuff now, but growing up? HA!

When I was pregnant with both my children I was glad I couldn't know the sex of the baby. I had a girls and boys name picked out both times. I was just hoping for a healthy baby and each time that's what I got. Children should be loved for what they are, a blessing. To pick and chose characteristics like off a shopping list is to leave yourself open to disappointment and possibly a child who isn't being loved as it deserves.

This was predicted as part of the future society in Robert Silverberg's 1969 novel 'Up The Line'.

I agree Tany. I had boy cousins and brothers and males everywhere so the grass always looks greener u know and I always wanted a sister. So I secretly wanted a little girl and was thrilled when I got my daughters, and so was my Mom cause they loved girly stuff and dressing up, so I was happy that as little girls she got to dress them up and fix their hair I didn't know the sex until they both were born and I was prepared to have a boy and would have loved him with all my heart. (I had the names picked out too)

wow, bit like playing "monster rancher" huh?

i don't like it but i think this is what's gonna happen in the near future