"Living Inheritances" Gain in Popularity

According to Mindy Fetterman, 'Giving while living' reshapes inheritances, USA Today, Aug. 24-26, 2007, at 1A:

"Giving while living" is becoming popular as more Americans decide to spread their money around while they're still here to see its impact. They're giving to children, grandchildren and others. They're paying for college educations and providing down payments for houses. They're setting up trusts and paying for vacations.

The article explains that even people of modest wealth are making greater use of inter vivos gifts, even to family members who actually earn more than the donors!

The article also points out how fewer than 25% of Americans actually inherit money (I think the author is using the term inherit to include both taking under intestacy and under a will).

Personally, I wonder whether the increase in gifting is due to a real desire to "see its impact" or because younger generations feel "entitled" to their elders' property and exert subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) influence to get free money early.