Suprise, blow-out gifts isn't a good idea. Giving gifts should be a well-thought-out process.

I wish this was just a common sense thing. Giving surprise gifts just to get a reaction sucks. I'd much rather somebody give me a gift they know I'll like than rush to get something cool. A well-thought-out gift can take months, if not years, planning. It shows you know and appreciate the person. Surprising someone with a gift just because it's expensive and "cool" shows you didn't put time into it. It's not a surprise to give a blowjob, dust the house, etc. etc. and then expect a reward. It's not a surprise for the person doing one of those things to expect a blow-out gift, either. Just put time into the gift you want to give.