The OP's pictures in post
#7 perfectly encapsulate half the reasons why I detest buffets: mediocre food kept warm for way too long. You can't even like to imagine that a chef has prepared food fresh for you (I know that most restaurants in the USA don't have proper chefs, but merely follow instructions on the over-sized catering packs, but it's good to practice some self-delusion occasionally). The other reason to hate buffets is that having to jump up and down the whole time ruins the ambiance of the meal. How can you have a proper conversation if you are always jumping up and down, or being jostled by over-sized people returning to their tables with over-filled plates?