You say upfront pricing would be preferable but consumers show over and over they pick based on the advertised price. This is true in dining, flights, hotels etc.
They pick based on the advertised price because hidden fees and culturally-mandated tips exploit weaknesses in our psychology, not because customers actually like to spend more than they'd planned on.
But my favourite thing: it gives weight back to tips. They mean something again.
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Meanwhile the employees blame the customers, the customers blame the corporation, and the corporation blames the employees.
The corporation is the only one that is laughing all the way to the bank.
That's not what this conversation is about.
This is precisely why junk fees must die.