[whichdan]

Basically we'd need laws enforcing a minimum wage for waitstaff, otherwise restaurants that allow tipping will always have an advantage over more expensive ones that don't. And no, you're not required to tip, but that only ends up hurting the waitstaff, not the restaurant.

[prepend]

We do have laws and the minimum wage that reflects $2.92 or whatever includes language that the hourly wage after tips must meet regular minimum wage.

I think the issue is the federal minimum wage is very low $7-8 or so so that minimum amount is low for waiters and everyone.

If you increase minimum wage, you will also enforce that minimum wage for waitstaff.