Why No 'Gift This App' Feature in the iTunes App Store?

I hope you're not looking for the answer in this article :) I'm just wondering why Apple haven't enabled the ability to 'Gift an App' in the iTunes App Store.

I do in fact spend more in the iTunes Store gifting stuff to friends and family than I do on my onw purchases.

I do have my own theory though. For a long time we've been able to gift music via the iTunes, but herein lies the answer. EVERYONE that uses iTunes can purchase/download music, so there are no compatibility issues, whereas apps and games from the iTunes App Store are ONLY compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch, and then only if the owner has updated their device to 2.0 or higher.

If I were Apple (only in my wildest dreams) I too wouldn't want to deal with the issue of refunding the 'giver' when he/she gifts their iPod Nano owning buddy the hot new iPod Touch game from the App Store.

A bummer though. I'd love to be able to run regular competitions for iPhone and iPod Touch owners that would see the winner getting a copy of Spore Origins for the iPhone. It's a great game!

There is of course also the issue of our not being able to gift music internationally. You live in the USA, I live in the UK. iTunes simply doesn't allow me to gift you a track. That's a currency/licensing issue.