There was a never a 'golden age' of tipping where everyone was getting paid fairly. Make no mistake, tipping was and is usually used as a way of justifying lower wages.
This is how tips work in virtually every country other than the US though. Tips are still a thing, but they're optional because minimum wage is the same for serving staff as it is for everyone else.
> because minimum wage is the same
That would help but still not be enough, with the US minimum wage.
They still have the effect of depressing wages with a component that is uncertain, volatile and liable to theft.