As great of an Idea as the gift cert is Ben, the problem is that until the money is on the table its hard to say exactly who is going to show up. So to buy a gift cert ahead of time wouldn't exactly be practical... unless...
Say buyin was $50... min players would be 6... pay out 60 20 10
First place would be 100 gift cert plus cash
second would be 30 gift cert plus cash
Third would be 10 gift cert plus cash
That way if the min number of players do not show up the host is only on the hook for $140 in gift certs to LFS.... or some percentage of the total buyin for that tourney.
Personally I like the thought of the gift cert, but I don't see the practicality of it.
Just my 2 cents but I've been sniffing paint fumes and drinking beer all night so I'm prob totally off base =)