I have to agree 100% with you. When i was a kid and asked my parents for something without saying thank you or please i would have gotten a good smackingIt is not the asking for a PIF, it is the lack of "please" - that little word really goes a long way in the perception of the "need".
I may just be old school, but I have been brought up with manners. I also have no problem with PIFFing, I have PIffed all my starter gear, some more, and shall conitinue doing just that.