I would agree with your decision. You do not employee foh employees, and thus your logic makes total sense. but we who do employ foh employees need skilled professionals. And cutting their wages is unacceptable, and I assure you I am in the same boat as you with paying myself. But I cannot afford to pay them the 25 to 50 dollars/hr they can make. They would laugh at 15 - 20 dollars/hr. The answer is with corporate practices that keep goods high. We cannot address tipping without addressing the gouging that is over looked by placing the burden on employees. The problem simply segues into other dysfunctions like wait staff shortages.