I think all kids try it at some point, you just have to handle those first few times in the right way and they soon realise it isn't worth the energy kicking up such a fuss. My daughter always tries batting her eyelids and looking cute to try persuade us- that doesn't work either.
One of my pet hates though is on-lookers who think they have the right to tell you how you should handle your own kids- we've had a fair few problems with the old biddy brigade and our AS son.
oh, i caused a scene in the restaurant the time the old bag decided to intervene.
so many times i see parents doing the laissez fairre approach to parenting and i never say anything.
one time a few months ago this kid was throwing a fit and the parents were following us around the store.
finally, i turned around and said, "hey, we are planning on going this way, which way are you going!" then i looked at their kid, but said nothing else.