Got to look at it from their side of things, with a whole lot of experiences dealing with the many morons scattered about the general populace.
Sounds like your current lease runs 5/1/17 - 4/30/18. The landlord knows this, thus the notice you received. Landlord also knows X percent of his tenants have forgotten the term dates of their leases, so one purpose of the notice is to remind them. The other, more important, reason for the notice is to help Mr. Landlord avoid having a property not generating any,or less than normal, income for any month or so. By not responding the tenant has agreed to renew for another year.
Landlord considers the renewal as his insurance policy against loss of rental income. He knows come the end of April some of his moron tenants will just move out knowing their leases are up. Some might advise Mr. Landlord and some not, but either way they pack up and move, leaving one property unrented for part or all of May, or longer. And that's when Landlord's fangs get bared and he comes after you for the rent you agreed to pay by not responding to the notice he sent you.
Technically, legally, to the Landlord anyway, you're on the hook for 12 more months of rent. Tenant could hire a lawyer and fight it and maybe even win in the end, but Landlord also knows from experience not many of his tenants can afford to fight him and end up paying him for any lost rental income and whatever monetary penalty surely outlined in the lease in case of its early termination.
So nothing stupid about the notice. Landlord could care less if you respond by 1/21/18. He wins no matter what.