Why? Most checks drafted from business accounts have an expiration date - so do money orders.
Gift cards are a godsend to american commerce as it makes the our buying much more efficient. Rather than wasting resources by purchasing unwanted items as gifts we are able to spend money on things that we really want.
Companies are not going to want to issue gift cards that they have to keep on the books for years on end. The accounting, tracking and reporting costs will make the cards unprofitable.
Laws like this are just going to kill the goose that laid the golden egg.
I'll take a gift card any day... hot item on ebay, they sell pretty much instantly. My last $50.00 gift card went for 47.50 and a $10 coffee card went for $8.99.
I'll take the cash.