Your contrived hypothetical scenario is not proof of your conjecture. Because there are plenty of places that don't work with tips that do fine. Hell, some of

Your contrived hypothetical scenario is not proof of your conjecture. Because there are plenty of places that don't work with tips that do fine. Hell, some of our least expensive options operate in a tip-free environment. And no restaurant where tipping is expected is selling for the same price as fast food places in the first place. So it's not the scenario where you're looking at two options that seem equally priced, but one has the hidden tip tax on it. No, you're looking at two options where one is just more expensive and you have to tip. And why are restaurants special in this regard? Why does no other sector have to operate on this model, where a customer has to directly pay a businesses employees? And why only in the U.S.? How did the rest of the world figure this one out but we can't seem to shake it? Tipping is stupid and is anti-ethical to actual customer service as it pits staff against the customer and creates resentment in both directions.