Anyhow, let's follow his line of thinking out. $3.00/hr is not sufficient to earn a living on. Thus the staff has the choice of finding another job. At some point though, the owner will not be able to find new staff without paying them more. He will then pass that increase along to his customers through higher prices. At that point, this clown will be paying the equivalent of the tip but he will now not have the power to express his pleasure/displeasure with the quality of the service. Addtionally, what motivation will there be to provide excellent service everytime?
Isn't this how EVERY other business in the country works, and yet we somehow all still get by? Listen, if a restaurant owner wants me to do performance evaluations on his wait staff, that's fine, he can hire me as a consultant. I fail to see why I should be expected to do it for free, when I'm presumably there to enjoy myself.