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This what I've never understood about the tipping system. a tip is supposed to be optional and used for good service. If the tip is required or expected why the [censored] dont you just add it in the cost of the meal? Why does it matter if the food is 15% more expensive or if I'm expected to "tip" 15%? By calling a tip and leaving it optional all you do is let people get around it. seems retarded to me.

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The tipping system has a couple of benefits.

For the server, it means better service = more money, generally speaking. It rewards better performance.

On a practical level, servers get to keep much more of their money because they pretty much never report all their cash tips on their taxes. If it's a wage, it's a different story.

The difficulty, as you pointed out, is that making it 'optional' allows people to get around it. But most good servers will tell you they do much better than 15% on the average meal, so simply setting it in stone at 15% would hurt them and help lousy servers. It's the same reason that casinos where dealers pool tips pretty much always have worse dealers - no incentive not to suck.