I think most of the people on this board are wonderful and caring. When I send something to share with someone, I do so from the heart and not with an expectation of profuse thank you notes or messages. In a perfect world, I simply want to know that the squishy got there and that it is useful to the person. That said, I consider it rude when a gift is not even acknowledged but I won't let someone's rudeness change my ways.
I read recently in a German quilting forum that the moderators disallowed requests for charitable contributions unless the resulting works went to a community-based cause OR there was some form of exchange. I hope we won't end up here. After all, if someone asks for a hand-out (or a hand-up) it is up to each and every one of us individually whether we want to share with that person or not.