That businesses are allowed to surprise you with unexpected fees is a negative thing. How can you interpret it otherwise?

Don't you just go out to eat knowing the price is going to be 20% higher after tip? I can understand the desire for predictability, but menu prices are artificially low as they don't account for labor. If tipping were 'abolished' food service prices would have to rise 10-20% across the board to compensate.

That would be fairer and more honest

I'm not talking about tips. You already get random super fine print 10-20% "service" surcharges on your bill at many restaurants. This is not the tip.

It’s just kind of silly to say “we have a tipping culture” in the same argument as “we just illegally deported a guy to El Salvador”

Come for the menial and absurd, stay for the flagrant anti-constitutional (in spirit) issues.

Service charge is a weird thing. Normally, I'd expect a volume discount if I create bigger business for someone. Restaurants decided that's not how it works.

If someone with experience could explain why 1x6 people should be charged a higher price than 6x1 people, I am curious.

Big tables are way more work for back of house as they bottleneck the kitchen with a bunch of simultaneous tickets. A large table demands more attention, but then you also end up with a larger bill on which customers are then less to add a tip. They can also decrease margin on shared plates.