While I agree that this is slightly cynical, you're approaching this as though it's also exploitative and one-sided. If you're a good tipper and frequent diner

While I agree that this is slightly cynical, you're approaching this as though it's also exploitative and one-sided. If you're a good tipper and frequent diner, there's a strong financial benefit to the employee and it turns into a mutually-beneficial business relationship. If not, then you're an obviously-manipulative asshole who tips poorly. A regular who's transparently manipulative and a poor tipper has a good chance that someone on the other side of the relationship with a similarly exploitative value system will find a way to settle the score.