Hi Ryan. We rarely go out to eat anymore. The service is often horrendous. I believe because service no longer has that "space", freedom, to form a small business relationship (the meal) between them and the customer. It used to feel great to leave a good tip and it felt good to receive one. Now we just have impersonal "service staff". Everyone is NOT the same. Some waiters are happy to get low tips and do the minimum. Others want to exceed expectations and get better tips. If you try to fit everyone into one type no one is happy. You pretty much said the same.

It is a good question on where a "progressive" would stand. Maybe you can write another story because this one is really just setting the stage.

Do your "progressive" friends approve or not approve of automatic tipping? I'm not sure I even got that?