I understand.
I quit doing all-u-can-eat when the prices were around $18-$20 a person. Not because of the price, but because I just couldn’t eat that much anymore. Chinese buffets were my favorite. The big thing for other folks was the steamed crab legs (which I didn’t eat), but I could knock out some chicken skewers. Not now though. If I’m gonna be miserable after a meal, it’ll be after eating one GREAT steak, a baked potato, salad, and vegetable du jour...maybe a dessert.
The good news...eating out is still fun! I just had to adjust.
Most of those places just don’t have really good food. I’ll do the buffet at some of the Greek or Indian restaurants that have it, or something like Texas de Brasil or Oni (Korean BBQ version), but they’re up in the 30s-50s per person :/