From TFA:

Boxes and paper grocery bags pile up along the hallway, full of things to be gotten rid of. But the thrift stores and donation drop-offs are still closed, or have limited hours. And you know that most of those things don’t get sold.

The flaw is in the object. The original gift didn't improve your life. Passing it on doesn't improve anyone else's life. Once upon a time thrift stores might have made sense, and for a very specific class of durable yet useful objects they might still, but the corkpull (and most similar gifts) is not in that class.

You (and the article) have made an error in generalization. Take the time to go into your local thrift store and observe what people buy. Better yet, ask your elderly wine drinking family their opinions on wine opening devices.

I've been to thrift stores. They no longer allow after-hours drop-off. They are quite selective about which items they will take. They certainly wouldn't waste their time and shelf-space with the "corkpull" mentioned in TFA. I have installed an under-cabinet jar-opening vise for my mother, which I only ordered because she specifically asked for it. No one in the family would dream of foisting it off on Goodwill if for some reason she didn't need it anymore. Admitting that trash is actually trash and throwing it away is the first step in living a life that produces less trash.