That's why chip-and-pin was mentioned first, then tipping culture. The chip-and-pin mandate requiring that online chip transactions have PIN entry essentially forced Canadian restaurants to have devices brought to the table. The alternative would have been to force everyone to queue up at a payment terminal to settle their meal at the end, which would have been a far less optimal experience.

As you said, absent something like that forcing it, the restaurants don't have a compelling reason to go for that cost and expense when people aren't clamoring for it. The QR codes are basically free to add (if the merchant has an very nicely updated/integrated PoS like Toast) for a cent of receipt paper. People who want contactless payment can use that, people that don't can just leave the card, have the waiter/waitress swipe it, and then sign traditionally.

With no incentive in the US market restaurants aren't going to go for it. And opposite of incentives, some eateries are surcharging card payment now, which is the opposite.