What is your opinion on personalized PCS gifts versus a standard for everyone?

Not in favor of the standard gift for everyone. Personalization means you put some thought into it. It shows you cared. Even if you add a little gag into it, it's showing that you were actually thinking about that person.

I bet 5 or 10 years down the road someone would look at a personalized gift and it'd still bring a smile to their face because at one point in time someone appreciated them.

I remember when my NCO was getting out of the Marine Corps, I put together this really nice going away gift and I actually moved them to tears.

One thing I learned about the military is we don't always show our appreciation for our fellow troops. So giving them a good send off really makes a difference.

A combination of a standard design template (plaque, shadow box?), with short personalized inscriptions or additional coins, brass, knife, inert fuse ignitor, inert training item, etc. is great, because it is personal...... and in-expensive. Those types of awards are the only ones hanging in my office today.

Rather then standardized gift, I'd prefer to see something individual, but at standardized price point.
I was not a fan of some PSG getting a 3x6 wood plaque with brass plate and the CDR getting a set of colors mounted in a frame, or the 1SG getting a high zoot fishing reel engraved and SSG Shmuck getting a orderly room printed thanks for being here form letter in a supply room purchased frame.