hey troll,
If you have not noticed, almost all the suggested gifts have been sefarim, clothes for Shabbat, things for Yom Tov, or things for mitsvot. Why do you persist in saying that the whole gift idea is counter our values?
No one is trying to buy love, nor live for the moment. Obviously, the issue is showing appreciation for the man on his birthday and wanting him to keep growing.
BTW are you jealous?