Reply To: In lieu of…

DY:

Seems to me, that ??? instituted shalach manos because they wanted us to increase our friendships on purim, by giving each other gifts. They made a minimum of one person, but it seems they supported giving to many friends.

If you send a card in lieu of…, you have not increased friendship. What you have told the person is that he is not important enough for you to bring him something.