H.M.
Oh I so hear you! My MIL - while very generous - loves to buy "junk" gifts that just take up space. It makes me crazy. Every year she asks - I give her a reasonable list - and she pretty much ignores it.
I try very hard to buy gifts I think someone wants/would like/use and it strikes me as weird that everyone else doesn't operate the same way.
This year we asked for cash towards airfare home to spend Christmas with the family (first time in 5 years) and I thought that would solve the "gift" problem - unfortunately she still wants to buy us something "to open" - ah well - I usually end up re-gifting them to someone else throughout the year so all is not lost and you are not alone.