I'm pleased to have added a little levity to your day.

Your experiences are yours, and I wouldn't presume to doubt or deny them.

Whilst I have no personal experience of people having denied or being offended by the offer of tips, because I haven't presumed to offer them in places where I know tipping is generally discouraged or considered discourteous (Singapore and Japan come to mind, allowing that you may have successfully tipped someone in either or both), I have certainly read on multiple occasions of people refusing, and being offended by the offer of tips.

I think the main point is that in this sort of thread the thrust tends to be, "you're in the US, respect our customs" (and it's a fair point), but little consideration is given to the reverse situation.

In many parts of the world, people won't always take free money.