A great (for the owner) side effect of tipping is it allows restaurants to remain open even during times they are slow (weekdays, off-season) by passing much of

A great (for the owner) side effect of tipping is it allows restaurants to remain open even during times they are slow (weekdays, off-season) by passing much of the financial burden to the waitstaff instead of the owner. Otherwise hours would probably be much less convenient for the customer. This may not be the case in a large city but in smaller towns the weekday shifts are also a rite of passage to earn a good night where you can make some money.