What a bunch of nonsense.
Intentionally hurting the feelings of people who have given you gifts because of some kind of stupid self-imposed restriction on making white lies is not a moral thing to do, IMHO.
If, down the line, someone keeps asking about a gift and doesn’t get the hint the first couple of times you (truthfully) say: “I haven’t used it yet”, then, perhaps, they deserve to have it explained that the gift isn’t really right... but, at the time of gift giving, being gracious and saying “thank you” IS the right thing to do.
I agree with the author that subtrefuge and deception hurt far more people far worse in the long run. And, no one grows on either end.
Jesus died that we might have better relationships with God AND WITH EACH OTHER, than THAT.