Long distance guests

shootthemoon

What's the ettiquette on inviting long distance family and friends who either definitely won't be able to attend or likely won't be able to attend?

I've always thought you invite them, to make them feel included. In my family lots of our relatives live far away and are people who would attend if they were local and would want to send a gift even though (or especially because) they can't attend. 

However I've recently heard that invitations of this type can seem "gift-grabby," even though that is not the intention in this case, and that you should only send these people a birth announcement after LO arrives, and they will send a gift then if they want to. 

If it makes any difference, I'm mostly asking for a shower I'm *throwing,* though I am also curious about the answer as it relates to my own shower. TIA.