To reply both questions:
I purchased it from a game shop (authorised distributor of Blizzard games) on the 17th of Dec, added the key on the 18th of Dec. - CE is a physical box after all, and no, it was not “gifted” to me, as I bought it to play myself.
That said, I do not see anything on the promotional page which indicates such fine print that says I must buy it from the online Blizzard shop. I bought it after the promo was announced on the site which is dated 16th Dec. I added the key within the stated time period. The only fine print on the promotion page is:
" **Game time offer available through 2 January 2023. Offer not available when upgrading Dragonflight editions. Gifted copies of Dragonflight must be claimed by the recipient by 2 January 2023 to receive the additional 30 Days of Game Time.*"
Again, while I (somewhat unhappily) accept Blizzard’s decision that I cannot get the promo time, I do think that they should have been clearer in the fine print. I do not see anything that says the CE EPIC key bought from a physical store is not entitled to the promo.