I have a working theory on the whole "you don't have to get me anything" line.
When women say that they don't want anything for Valentine's Day - I think they often mean it. The problem isn't that the guy follows those instructions and actually gets her nothing; I think the problem arises when she sees what her co-workers/girlfriends/sisters/etc. get from their significant others.
Co-worker: "Oh look, my boyfriend sent a dozen red roses to the office - I had no idea that was going to happen!"
Wife: "Wow ... that's really nice ..."
Co-worker: "How about you, what are you guys doing for Valentine's Day, anything special?"
Wife: "..."
That's when they get P.O.'d and start to ask themselves why their guy can't be bothered to do *something*, anything. Then of course there's only one target for that frustration, but they can't come out and tell their guy why they're upset, because they know that they already said that they didn't want anything in the first place. So then it's nothing but a day or two of awkward, frustrated, snippyness.
It's just a theory mind you, but by the same token, I'm shelling out for dinner and a dozen roses again this year. I don't even think twice about it.
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