I guarantee this person has never waited tables.

I’m just learning from this thread that we Americans have a reputation for small talk with strangers. For what it’s worth, it’s not really true in my experience. I never have cashiers or people I’m sitting next to on the bus try to engage me in conversation. Though it is true that smiling while interacting with people is considered polite.

If you stopped playing after 3, and who could blame you, than you did miss out on Black Flag which was probably the high point of the series. But your general point still stands, Black Flag is kind of the exception that proves the rule.