My own experience (not only with drawing, but with anything that necessitate tools), is that good (not necessarily excellent) tools are needed for appropriate progress.
In many cases, using poor tools is adding extra difficulties. For a beginner, it can be disheartening, and the worst, imo, is that it is difficult for a beginner to differentiate between their lack of skills and the lack of quality of the product.
I can remember many cases when I worked so hard on some technical aspect with very slow progress, only to realize I was let down by the tool, after buying a better one (worse with music instruments, but I have a recent eg. with a poor charcoal pencil which managed to make me believe I had lost all my skills in that technique).
But paradoxically, cheap tools are often advertised for beginners. I understand not wanting (or not being able) to invest in expensive tools when we are not sure we'll actually use them, but I still think it's better to go for mid-grade products (or rent the product for a while if applicable).
Imo, cheap tools should be used only if there is no other solution, or as extras (eg. I buy cheap stuff when I travel and may lose/break them).