Ooo. Malabrigo! I might just have to start knitting again! Thanks for the tip, guys!
Just for the reference of anybody else who might be looking to this thread for ideas–do not buy a knitter needles. Many (most?) knitters are super-picky about the needles that they use, so it’s way too likely that they won’t use whatever you pick out. Accessories can be good, however. (The needles on that site are gorgeous. The site says that they’re stocked at my local shop, so I’m going to check them out!)
Good suggestion for people to at least consider for gifts. I got knitting needles this year, but they were from my mom, a fellow knitter and she knew exactly what I was talking about (Knit Picks Options in wood!). I actually got her the exact same thing. 
If you’re a non-knitter, it can be very hard to get something that’s nice, to their taste, and useful. As an example, I have a friend who was given one skein of a worsted weight yarn, “to make a sweater out of!” A knitter would know that one skein of worsted is not enough to make a sweater. She could find a different type of pattern, but she’s a known sweater-knitter, and she was ‘stuck’ with a yarn that she couldn’t match the dyelot to. She definitely still appreciated the thought, though.
I got a set of Knit Picks Harmony Options (circulars)! Yay!
Yeah, I might have been a bit unrealistic. If someone actually did the detective work to determine my needle preference (or was super observant) and presented me with a set of beautiful needles of sapient pearwood with a unicorn hair core, I’d be thrilled.
But I guess it’s only a good idea for people who would love them as little works of art, rather than as perfectly practical tools.
I wouldn’t risk getting someone a large set of speedy metal needles only to find that the recipient prefers wood. You’re right about that.