"it is a redundancy because free is synonymous with a gift"
That's not necessarily true when it comes to soteriology. Some say before the "gift" is operative it has to be received or accepted or one has to make a decision to receive it or one has to complete the "good works" in order for it to be fully operative. Because of these accretions to the idea of gift, a discriminating term has to be used to explain the simple fact that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone; a gift alone, not of works of any kind or obfuscation.
I don't see it that way at all, BD. Charisma is underserved divine mercy; in His loving justice, God offers it to all. We either accept it and follow God, or reject it and follow Satan.