Hey Grad, Play hard with an iPod?

Just got the Apple email:

	Goodbye, finals. Hello, fun.Give your grad something fun to do now that school's out. iPod touch has all the entertainment one person can handle. Games, apps, music, movies, TV shows, theweb—with so many exciting features, it's like tons of graduation gifts in one.Shop iPod touch

 ... and my first thought is wow, after finally graduating college I wonder how some grads would feel "just" getting an iPod. Even though that engraving is totally shiny.

Now I'd definitely be grateful for any gift or acknowledgment, knowing someone took the time to think about me and care...but traditionally I've known peers to get things like iPods for birthdays or Chrismukkah/Festivus etc. 

Graduation seems to be something more significant being that it's an achievement, something earned. Some parents go to great lengths to throw a party in order to showcase their new grad in front of friends, family, co-workers etc. Graduation is something to be proud of and to be marked in some way that will be remembered. My dad got money towards his first car after graduating college...that's pretty significant. Now obviously not everyone should get a car and no one should be in the habit of expecting gifts in general... especially if they may already have the gift of their education being paid for by family. On the other hand, a car is a practical tool instrumental in the pursuit of employment, so while an extremely generous gift, it also seems more valid. Then again after working hard in school for years, it might be nice to sit back and "play" with an iPod, and a $200-300 computer that kicks my first computer in the teeth is nothing to scoff at. 

It does however, make me wonder...is Apple using graduation as another excuse to push iPods? Or in its infinite marketing wisdom, is Apple pushing iPods over cars (or other more expensive practical items) due to current market?  

Car manufactures are failing left and right offering to pay your loan if you lose your job just so you'll buy from them, except struggling families can't afford the cars they have, let alone to help their grad get a car. Or maybe the grad already has one from when times were good, as a high school graduation present perhaps?

I'm trying to remember the graduation day ads from the golden years past...I'm pretty sure they included cars and some car ads this year probably include grads.

But I wonder what has more influence on ads this May, the market or that it's graduation time which is yet another commercialized gift giving holiday.