I think it's a great idea in some cases. One place I used to work you were obliged to buy everyone something (loads of people had worked there for years and years and knew each other, but when I came in there was quite a change of staff), by introducing secret santa you cut down on spending lots on nice presents, or buying lots of tacky stuff and you can hopefully count on someone buying you something half decent and you know they haven't spent too much, but more than they would have if they had to buy for everyone else too...
But where you are not already obliged to, who give s a crap!?
