I go the other way on this. I much prefer to have a general (or even specific) idea about the preferences of the person I am giving a gift to - I like the feeling of giving them something they will really like, and will really use.
My best friend of 30 years got married four years ago and for her wedding gift I gave her a certificate for the quilt of her choice to be custom made by me. I did it this way because, while I know her extremely well, I didn't know her husband-to-be at all (we don't live in the same country anymore). I expected them to choose a queen or king-sized bed quilt in a somewhat classic pattern, based on my knowledge of my friend. In fact they chose a landscape quilt wallhanging (which was a ton of fun to make - much more up my alley than the bedquilt would have been) and it has hung on the wall above their bed since one day after it arrived at their house. That makes me feel great!
I have many similar stories, but that one really shows my point.
Alison