I think the amount of damage you could do to the wrapping paper with water exceeds the benefit of easily sticking the wrapping. When I wrap, I intend to use only three pieces of tape--normally I can. Also if you got it wet in an area where you didn't want it to stick, you'll be wadding it up and starting over.

Potential trouble of having the whole paper sticky doesn't outweigh the ease of using traditional method with tape.

How are you going to accidentally get the whole thing sticky if you're just licking it? If you've ever licked a stamp or envelope you should know that avoiding damaging the paper is hardly an problem.

I think the biggest disadvantage would be that you would have to hold it in place for several seconds before the glue would grab. I can see people getting impatient waiting for it. On the other hand, this can actually be an advantage because it lets you adjust the position of the paper. I hate it when I'm trying to place a piece of tape and it accidentally touches and sticks in the wrong place. Tape grabs instantly and is often impossible to remove from some gift wrap without tearing it.

I'm not fond of the concept as the acrobatics of wrapping can get you into all sorts of comic gyrations wetting and sticking. What is probably needed is some sort of tape dispenser that is handy and easily dispensable so one does not have to spend two hands getting a piece of tape and holding the package at the same time. Something with a trigger mechanism to extrude the tape and chop off a usable piece.

One of the advantages of lick and stick is that you can "apply" it without using your hands at all. You can hold the package with both hands while you lick the paper. I don't understand what is making people think this would be tricky. I think it would be far easier than fumbling with tape. Try it with an actual package and regular wrapping paper. It won't stick of course, but you'll find that performing the procedure is a snap.

though I think your concept reminds me a little bit of covering a model airplane wing with monocote or any of the other shrink-polyesters.

They have a heat sensitive glue on one side, so they only stick after they've been heated, usually with a small iron. Also, after they've begun to stick, you heat it more to shrink the covering to make the plane tight, sometimes with a heat gun.

It would actually be great for wrapping, but at about $13 a 3' x 6' roll, its too expensive for wrapping. When I once gave a kit RC plane to my brother, I wrapped with it so he would have covering when he got to that step. Vivid colors, too, but no prints.

http://www.monokote.com/

It is a good idea really : wrapping the present as one normally would, then using a damp sponge to moisten edges to seal the wrapping ; In combination with current gift-wrapping scissors that one just pushes along to cut the wrapping paper, wrapping presents would be a snap . The wrapping paper might have to be stored in the basement, so the roll does not get too warm and all stick to itself becoming useless .