I have a much less negative view of this than some of you seem to. Once I started playing WoW in the long long ago I didn't want any other kinds of gifts, even other games. "Just buy me WoW time cards." That was the thing I liked and I didn't want money being spent on other stuff I wouldn't like nearly as much, and especially when the accompanying 'look at all the things we got you, show us some gratitude' lectures would come so swiftly afterward.

I cannot say I have a sterling view of MTX or in-game stores, but if I was perfectly happy with my one game and didn't want any others, I would love to have more things related to that game, be it mounts, costumes, skins, or whatever. I fell out of love with physical things that would just crowd my shelves or a box in my closet, and consequently never asked for them again. My interests narrowed to computer games and just never shifted away from there since.