OvO I am not even doing things soooooo different from you, even though I am rubbish at arts and crafts, unfortunately.
I don't think it is about who buys what and when. It's not even about when do you talk about it with whom in your family or your loved ones, cause it is necessary to organise the visits and stays etc.
We talk about it early, as we all live in different countries and cities and it needs talking about it to organise all that.
However, it's more about the organisation of times and schedules and whoever wants to buy early stuff, it's totally personal choice. I have a little tine note book and I do write down ideas, when loved ones, family and friends mention things they like or what they would like to do, or what would make them happy etc.
So, I make little notes, so for X-mas, birthdays and other occasions I come up with good gifts, which they like (I hope so).
I am annoyed about some sort of consumption and material craze and no care what Christmas stands for and it's meaning and I do not want to get swamped with all this talk by folks so early on. I perceive it as, well so annoying as in ill-mannered or shallow or I don't know what.
I am less annoyed with other people as I usually tune out, but am more annoyed about all the shops and their products on offer, if that makes sense.