Shopmas now begins on Thanksgiving Day. Apparently, escaping the families you cannot stand to spend another minute with on Thanksgiving Day to go buy them gifts is how some Americans show their affection for one another. Weird.
Little white lies are told by humans all the time. Indeed, lying is often how we get through each day in a happy little bubble. We spend time and energy rationalizing our own behaviors, beliefs and decision-making processes.
Every buck that they are forced to spend elsewhere is that much less money (spent) on other issues. With technology it may not fall dollar-for-dollar, but you have to think that it's going to pinch a little bit.