Not at all.
Thinking this sort of thing is “a bit much” IS the Russian problem, in a nutshell. Its a defect of psychology.
I’ve always thought “How to Win Friends and Influence Poeple”, Dale Carnegie, should be required reading in the Russian nomenklatura. They need this very very badly.
Back in the day, with the aid of communist ideology, the Soviets did much, much better. They did favors, they sucked up to “agents of influence”, they gave free trips with caviar, the sent the Bolshoi off to places for free, they gave out scholarships, you name it.
Back around 1983/1984 I attended a conference at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. During the cocktail hour I chanced into a quite frankly charming fellow and we talked at length about the USSR. I noted my interest in not just Faberge eggs (a tad cliché) but the general folk art of the Pascha Eggs.
After we shook hands and parted ways I was informed by someone else that the charming fellow was Vladimir Pozner who at the time was something of a representative for the USSR in the USA.
That led to an extensive contact report and debrief for me.
Some time later he sent me a package with twelve beautifully detailed Pascha egg Christmas ornaments (they’re made of wood) and a few copies of ‘Soviet Life’ magazine.
It was a very thoughtful gift and also a tad unnerving as I had never given him my full name or home address. Still, I appreciate what I am sure was a very thoughtful gift on his part.