I would say that service varies but in general and I've recieved bad service in pretty much every country I've ever been to, but yes, customer service in the Nordics is different to some other countries.

I think some of that is down to the server considering themselves the customer's equal, which is as it should be, and is not dependent upon the customer's disposition for their income. Customers in tip-centric countries hold too much individual power over servers, forcing them to be sub-servient whilst hoping that something they have no control over hasn't angered the customer and affected their income. I'll happily take a slight downgrade in service over income inequality & unfairness.