I don't get the whole tipping thing, either, although I do it at sit-down restaurants (a pretty rare event!). Mostly because it's expected and it makes me look cheap if I don't. I remember my parents going to a restaurant in the US many years ago, and having the server actually follow them out onto the street demanding a tip. Can you imagine?
Having earned $2.75/hour pre-tax as a server... yes.
Well, okay ...... but I'm sure you knew going into the job what it paid and that tips are given at the discretion of the diner and not guaranteed, so .......
I think tips should be reserved for exceptional service and not just provided regardless of quality of service in order to top up a low wage. Otherwise where's the incentive to do a good job? Should every employer provide a bonus just for doing your expected job? When a diner receives poor or mediocre service, should they still tip? I once went to a restaurant on wing night at the bar, but we sat in the dining section. We waited forever for everything, eventually realizing that we were low priority because most people were at the bar. Paid with exact change and got an eye-roll from the server, but didn't feel in the least bad about it. If the restaurant can't provide service in a reasonable manner, then either say so at the start and allow people to go somewhere else, shut down regular service on such nights or accept the consequences. No, it wasn't the server's fault, but it wasn't ours, either, and we did pay the bill. Payment received for services rendered.