[sumedh]

Clearly you are one of those people who takes gifting very seriously, some dont. Its brilliant because its the right product for people who want to give something but dont have time or dont feel comfortable asking probing questions about what the recipient likes.

Giving cheque/cash feels tacky to me.

[scpedicini]

But giving a more restricted version of currency that can only be used at one place feels less tacky?

[colanderman]

Gift cards demonstrate a modicum of forethought/planning, albeit on the order of a Hallmark card. Cash says "this is what I found in my wallet on the drive here". Check falls somewhere in between, but with the added inconvenience of the recipient having to figure out how to deposit it.

Gift cards have the added benefit to the gifter that, upon being spent, the giftee has a chance to associate them with the purchased good or service. Cash and check, being added to an amorphous fungible pool, confer no such benefit for the gifter.

What I haven't figured out is where on these axes lies a printed-out QR code granting ownership of a Bitcoin wallet. Unfortunately Google tells me these actually exist: https://bitcoinpaperwallet.com/holiday-design/

[hnick]

Before cheap plastic gift cards existed, we used to just hand over cash and write in the card "get a nice book and let me know when you do" or something. So that's hopefully a little less tacky ;)

[Symbiote]

When I became old enough that more distant relatives didn't really know what to buy me, they'd send £5 and a request that I spend it on clothes, a book, a day out with friends or whatever.

Usually, they'd send a banknote in perfect condition, or a cheque if it was by post.

I'm now too old for these gifts, but my youngest sibling gets the same instructions, and a future-dated transfer to his bank account.

[sumedh]

Yes and there are gift cards which can be used at multiple stores