Where’s a $2.99 steak sandwich????
I know several people who have not only worked their way through college by waiting tables, but some of which chose to stick with it after graduation because they make decent money (particularly compared to the current job market in their fields). One thing that is common among the handful of servers who make a decent living waiting tables - they take care of their customers. Certainly, they still get stiffed, but they work hard, and treat customers like customers.
I agree that they should be paid AT LEAST minimum wage (except that politicians keep screwing that up too). Still - the system is what it is. So tip your server according to the service provided by that server. It is the system.
My daughter (Iraqi vet), see my page, waitressed before joining the military. Now, her and her husband (5 tours) are vets and getting their lives back to normal. Guess what she’s doing while both of them going to school?