meself wrote: "I find it curious that so many people here profess to be liberal buyers-of-drinks for performers, but balk at the idea of tipping same".

I don't, to be honest. As this refers to 'this side of the pond', I think, again, it's about cultural differences.

There maybe even an element of national stereotyping involved here too. Whilst the joke/stereotype referring to the Scots is they're tight-fisted swines who don't like spending money, there maybe some truth to the idea that the English find the issue of money either embarrassing - or even 'vulgar' - in some weird way. Hence being more than happy to buy a drink in appreciation but finding giving the equivalent in 'cold hard cash' a little unsettling.