To a degree, he's right. A person who loves nothing is no person at all. Whether it be a metaphorical/figurative, platonic, familial, or romantic love. If you spend your entire life loving nothing, then there's no real meaning in your life.
If the only time you're having *** with your girlfriend is when you buy her things, then the problem is you're in a shitty relationship. It's not Valentine's Day's or any of those corporation's fault, it's yours and your partner's. Valentine's Day is just a quirky gimmick that people buy into it because lighten the **** up, no one takes it seriously, it's just mindless fun. Then there's people like you who look deep into it as an excuse to show everyone how bitterly edgy and different you are.