Look, waitstaff KNOW that their very livelihood depends on giving good service. So in general most are pretty nice, and attentive.
There's no rule that you HAVE to tip, but unless the service truly sucks, you should always do so.
And for those Mr. Pinks who think that the waitress is some slave who should get a "real job", if you're a great waiter/waitress you can actually make a decent living, based on tips.
In fine dining establishments, you'll notice that the waitstaff is often older people.
Why would a 60 year old man wait tables at 4 Queens in Vegas? Because they are the best in the business. Probably paid off their houses and sent their kids to college because they have been waiting on people like Elvis and Sinatra for 40 years.
Those guys wanted great service, and the waiters provided it to them.
I've never enjoyed a meal as much when I went there. In fact I think I tipped around 50%. Those guys are PROS at making you feel like a king.
Worth every penny.
I prided myself on being neat and clean. I can’t tell you how some of the college kids wouldn’t care about their appearance, sloppy aprons, spilled food, or their wrinkly shirts. I cared about my service and appearance and I got tipped accordingly. I don’t know the term Mr. Pinks, care to explain? But, I gave 120% and got %70 in tips. It fed me and my 3 kids for 5 years, put me through engineering school, and paid my bills.