Tipping culture was always bullshit but became truly excessive after/during COVID. Mandatory tips + increased expectations of tips were unnecessary during COVID in my opinion. Let alone that those things seem to have stuck around at a lot of places.

People also developed a hero complex over just doing normal jobs during COVID like being cashiers or servers, etc. Like yeah these people are essential and COVID did highlight that, but they also aren't fucking saintly saviors for bringing out my $8 burrito from the kitchen or opening a bottle of beer for me at the bar. I feel like this whole over idolizing has enabled people to provide worse service and feel justified meanwhile still getting guaranteed tips.