I think you probably should stop assuming that everyone opposed to government regulation is in favor of corporatism/mercantilism/fascism. In fact, most of us recognize that government regulations themselves are bought and paid for by incumbent large corporations to create barriers to competition, and those barriers to competition are responsible for the ability of said large corporations to commit abuses with impunity.

Why pay with your own money when you can pay with the bank's money?

Always pay with credit cards for this reason. If you don't receive the merchandise, the bank is at a loss, not you.

And note that this same logic does not apply to debit cards, where you are out the money until the bank decides to refund it. I said "credit card" for a reason.

Give FRN's instead, or spend some time with the person and take them shopping.

Gift cards remind me of that Simpsons episode where the family goes to Itchy and Scratchy Land: Homer exchanges $900 for "Itchy and Scratchy Bucks", which turn out not to be accepted anywhere. Why convert dollars into something that has the same buying power but only in one store and only while that retailer remains solvent?