This is a bit silly, having gone through the experience on the other end of it where you wait. The credits expire if you do not redeem them so you still end up in a situation where they are under-used.

it almost sounds like that may be the plan behind such free credits - cost the gift giver as little as possible, set the hook nice and deep on the recipient.

Now I realize the same too. The bigger the upfront discount, the more services you might end up relying on in the year. Then all of a sudden, the things you built your business on, cost real money and real fast.