Also wondering who on earth buys stuff that the baby 'needs'? Let's be honest here. Like you said people buy books or outfits, toys, these are nice to have but not needed in the same way, say a pram is needed.
@FasciaDreams
Er, people attending a baby shower buy what is needed.
I had a surprise shower thrown for me in the place where I worked before DD1 was born. My lovely colleagues bought a car seat, a high chair, crib bedding, cute little stuffed animals and mobiles, framed nursery themed prints, little clothes (practical items like packets of onesie vests), little board books; a few gave me hand crocheted stroller blankets and crib blankets.
Previously, my exMIL had thrown a baby shower for me, and guests bought a stroller, small chest of drawers, and numerous other items like a bottle warmer, wipe warmer, toddler cutlery, little toys and books, and clothes.
The only way to make sure you get stuff you actually need/want is to create a registry but then you just look grabby. Which is the point anyway.
I love registries because they take the silly guesswork out of choosing a gift. They save a huge amount of time and effort and are also less wasteful of resources than going out and buying something personally that might end up returned, or ordering something random that might end up returned. All that time and effort wasted, and the waste of resources involved in sending or bringing an unwanted gift - all in order to perform a silly pretense or politeness. Spare me, please.
Registries are not grabby; they're practical and efficient. Who could possibly think it's a good idea to give a gift of an item someone already has or doesn't need? Something they'll end up never using, or something they'll have to return, something that will clog up their storage space? I don't see the point to that at all.