<p>Can’t you relate this to ED at a college? The college wants you and entices you with a greater percentage of getting in. You decide that you don’t want to go, essentially causing the college to lose an admissions spot for a potential applicant that would have attended. The only difference would be that you actually sign a binding contract with the college. The college would probably blacklist your school and contact your other potential colleges.</p>
<p>I don’t agree that you’re basically paying someone to marry you. What about the poor man? He doesn’t get anything shiny, just a coy wink and word contract of engagement. The engagement ring has essentially be a symbol of promise and love since the classical times (wikipedia). It’s only called a conditional gift because there has to be legal precedents in the event cases like these began popping up (breaking promises and etc).</p>