On the subject of lingerie

There's this Spence Diamonds commercial on the radio where buddy compares how guys look when they go looking for engagement ring to how he feels when he goes to a lingerie store.  It's a strange land where you don't know anything about anything, and you're nervous and scared.  This began a thought train that I would like answers for if anyone has any.

I don't really understand the practice of men buying lingerie for women as gifts for them.  Don't get me wrong, I think lingerie is awesome, and i'm certainly not complaining about this habit in at least some parts of society.  It's not the idea of going into a lingerie store that gives me chills, I think I would be perfectly fine selecting from among the myriad of various undergarments available.  What throws me off why a female-type-person would want to receive lingerie as a gift.  Gifts are generally things that the person receiving the gift will enjoy, I understand flowers, chocolates, general clothing, but the primary purpose of lingerie is that the person wearing the lingerie looks really, really sexy.

Isn't that more of a gift to the gentleman friend of said girl, rather than the girl herself?

So this is a call out to anyone reading this, I would like to hear your opinion on the situation.  Either post a comment on wherever you are reading this, or send me an email.

If you're a guy, do you agree with me?  If you have a girlfriend, would you buy lingerie for her for christmas or v-day?
If you're a girl, would you be offended if your boyfriend bought you lingerie?
If you're either of the above, what are your general thoughts on the situation?

I'm talking about as a gift here for an occasion, not like, the two of you are shopping and the guy buys you lingerie, that I understand.  I'm talking about as a gift on gift-giving occasions.