can a steam gift sent to your email be a different email than your steam account?

I'm not sure it there's a problem, but if there is, the giveaway maker can resend the gift to another e-mail. Even better if he gives it to you directly in chat.

It isn't a problem. When you activate the gift you technically do it through Steam anyway (aka through your account on Steam), so it doesn't matter which e-mail address it came from.

Yes.

Yes. ;)

Yes.

thanks for the replies - was / am just worried as the redeem link (the one behind the "yes i have steam" button) has "redeemer=my-other-email-addy". i sorta expect it prevent me from 'changing' the email and thus prevent me from adding to my steam account. does that make sense?