As an European from a non-tipping country this sounds really horrific to me. So you actively need to "charm/seduce" people into giving you larger tips to make over minimum wage?
I agree with you though! As I said, I also hate tipping, even as someone who grew up with it and worked (pretty successfully) in the industry. Lots of other service businesses have successfully demonstrated that you can incentivize good service without requiring tips (non-commission retail, etc).
The state minimum wage is $10/hour, so they can make over a week's worth of minimum wage pay in a single Saturday.
Ultimately waiters and waitresses are hustling so they get paid like engineers, not Wal-Mart greeters.