But that is the issue at heart.......the connotation of gifting/tipping when someone does their job......In the US, status is based on wealth, and we should share the wealth to the "Lesser folks who have less paying jobs.".......and this is not the case in alot of cultures (ie....alot of countries don't talk about business or comparison of wealth as it is faux pas; and your income doesn't matter).....

So gifting something when someone signed up to do their job can be perceived as insulting: as if, my lower paying job is so demeaning, I need a gift from you, who earns alot more.......

Don't get me wrong, I have the same perspective as you recently, and I tend to overtip as a US citizen when visiting foreign countries........but overtime and with lots of travel......I have now taken the perspective, we each chose a job that we should be proud of.....and the tipping//gifting culture is getting out of hand in the US and can see how it is viewed as demeaning and should not be exported to other countries........So hopefully, you can see a different perspective of your gifting behavior, as raised up by other posters here.....

Just a different view point on this matter.