@canidmajor Oh right, your point was “This is their business, their livelihood. Especially if it’s a small local business.”
It seems clear to me that their business will do far better if they sell three items rather than zero. Your argument reminds me of the calculations of companies claiming that every time someone shares their content/book/software/video/album, it costs them a full-price sale of their product due to should-be-illegal piracy.
You thinking that the cleaning comment is a valid point and arguing for it even in the case of my example makes me think your thinking on this detail is warped beyond the point of rationality.
I’m certain no extra staff wiping down was done on our account, and it would have been done whether or not I added some non-bought-there food or not. Even if they did, how much do you think one wiping down impacts a business? How does that compare to the alternative lost business of selling three cafe items, or to customers not feeling welcome to do what works for them even if it slightly breaks the rules, as opposed to feeling shamed or having a couple split up to eat, or more likely, not bother with your cafe because it’s not going to let them do what works for them?