Almost everybody here (UK) asked us if had a wedding list. We were both ambivalent about the idea, but decided to just go with the flow.
And yes, like what historyenne has said, people in the US also appreciated the list for the very reason she has cited.
We weren't spring chickens but we were setting up house for the first time, together. Nobody forced anyone to buy off the wedding list, or anything at all. Most of our gifts were off the list, some weren't, a couple people didn't get us anything - it was all okay. Everyone was happy, and we all lived happily ever after.