These publications suggest $1-$2 to the server at a buffet--so they haven't gone off the deep end in this instance.
[The problem with the scenario with "stations", gets super-magnified if you have a family of (say) 4.]
Well, that does balance out a bit; I've seen people recommending the standard 15-20%, which seems out of line to me.
$1-$2 per person at the table sounds about right to me, which is comparable to the standard tip at the cheapest buffets, and quite a bit lower at the pricier ones. Maybe a little more if they don't have self-serve soft drinks (most Reno ones don't, while it's pretty common at hotel breakfast and the the whole non-casino Hometown Buffet sort of places) and the server is good about refills.