Well, I think there are two separate issues… what your pack chooses to do and what the official BSA policy is.  The official BSA policy regarding cub scout custom neckerchiefs is stated here.  It seems that Lone Cubs are the exception unless your council chooses to deviate.

I'd also like to point out that what we're really talking about over a 5 year period is $24 a cub for the neckerchiefs, and a separate $16 for the 5 year periodfor the slides. Those together come out to $8 a year.   If it's a hassle for the pack, then you could raise dues by the cost and include it and purchase them for the boys in bulk by the Advancement Chair (or similar person).  We also have a large collection of neckerchiefs that get recycled from year to year too, as they really don't get that much wear, so that's another option.

Now, if the parents feel the uniform is nonsense, then perhaps explaining the purpose of uniform might help.  Do all your leaders wear theirs uniforms?  My Den is completely in uniform (well only about 50% socks), and they behave so much better, and learn so much more, and have lots of pride in their attire.  I never asked them, I just show up in those ill-fitting pants each week with my son in uniform.  They seemed to just figure, if I'd wear those pants…

Something else to note - any neckerchief slide will work.  We make SO many in Cub Scouts as gathering activities, den projects, etc. that they are never in short supply.  They get lost so easily (at least around here they do) it's almost better not to spring for the "official" slides.  But really, if $16 over 5 years is going to make or break you... *shrug*

I've heard of the policy to have the neckerchiefs become "pack property" and one be provided for each boy by the pack and returned at the end of each rank, but as Emily pointed out, that would mean building that cost into your budget.  Honestly? Once your unit made the initial investment, keeping up on the costs wouldn't be THAT bad, especially if the policy was "if you don't return it at the end of the year, you must purchase a new one," sort of thing.  Unless your pack is growing in leaps and bounds each year, you should only need to buy a handfull (or less?) new ones each year, varying on the growth of your unit.