People can do all the Sweet 16's and quinceaneros they want... but Claudia agrees with me. She wouldn't trade her Bat Mitzvah for anything that resembles a secular festivity. Even some Bat Mitzvahs have become just that. Of course, this is because of secular Jews who only show up at temple during High Holidays.
You can introduce a girl to society at the age of 15 or 16, but when you introduce a 12 year old girl to G-d's commandments and to the responsibilities that go with that, the end result is the biggest blessing ever.
