or do what they did a few years ago and give us gifts that didn't suck?

Nope. Sure ain't. Douchenozzle.

no

If you want to make vanity items for CCP, then just do it. Model them, texture them, and post your results for everyone to see in GD, on youtube and in a blog. CCP will use them if they're good and if you get enough community attention. And you will have done a great thing for the Eve-O community. But asking CCP to stop giving out gifts for you to do this is silly.

Just do it. Eve needs a modding community. You could be the start of it if your willing to put the work in.

I'd actually like to see more avatar items go up.

What was the gift you talk about?

go check out the 2011 gifts.

The only people whining are the more experienced players

What's this now?
You'd be hard-pressed to find a bitter-er bittervet than me. And I'm complaining about people complaining, not about the free stuff the Devs gave us. Check yo'self.

lol, no. I'm not trying to make a blanket statement about EVE veterans, but just try to find a rookie that will sit there and complain about the stuff he got. For free. From the game designers. For free. Hell, I'm sitting on some brand new Tech II gear that I don't have the skills to use (yet).

crappy gifts

To sum up EVE, it's primary a game where the object is to push your opponents over, sit on their heads, and feed them metaphorical punches until their teeth fly out. Secondarily, it's a environment geared toward competitive commerce (rampant, opportunistic capitalism), whether that's mining, manufacturing or other scientific pursuits.

The notion of complaining about receiving anything for free isn't something that should ever pop into an EVE player's mind. You kids have been spoiled with free shuttles and implants and bling (tugs on his shirt) for far too long. If your holiday gift was a pulse laser up the arse, that would be something you should have a giggle about and be thankful for.

Crappy gifts. Yeesh.

It's really the younger folks that started playing AFTER the first couple rounds of awesome gifts. I think everyone is still kind of high on the Gnosis, and expects better gifts, now. Which is why I came up with the idea of "no more gifts".
The *real* bittervets remember back when "oh, cool.... free bonus remap" was a common phrase throughout the playerbase on Christmas Day... most of those guys are saying "can we just stop getting gifts if people are going to act like this?".

It's really the younger folks that started playing AFTER the first couple rounds of awesome gifts. I think everyone is still kind of high on the Gnosis, and expects better gifts, now. Which is why I came up with the idea of "no more gifts".
The *real* bittervets remember back when "oh, cool.... free bonus remap" was a common phrase throughout the playerbase on Christmas Day... most of those guys are saying "can we just stop getting gifts if people are going to act like this?".

Ah, gotcha. But man, a free bonus remap? That's insanely awesome. Hell, I'm giddy over the Leopard, though

Ah, well. You got in-game items with no strings attached whether you're new or have been playing since the beta. As usual, people misguidedly think they have the right or are entitled to complain. Makes me wonder how many of the whiners are fellow Americans *activates hate shield*

Let's face it man.... most of them. I am pretty sure we're the only country that does "trophy for showing up, even if you lost".
And I almost died, hundreds of times for these sorry ingrates.

You mean like their expansions and patches and continued dedication to improving the game?
The only thing your subscription obligates them to provide is an account on their server with which to play the game. There's no contractual requirement for them to do any development or iteration at all.

It's a double-edged sword, in my opinion. Naturally, I can't really put together an analogy that accurately follows my line of thought, but, in essence, it's when people start demanding that participation medal or complain that "It sucks" that pisses me off.

Should CCP have given out these gifts? Did they absolutely need to? No, not at all. You may have the freedom to ***** and moan, but you don't have the right.

Also, may I ask during what years you were on active service?