I would consider the mandatory service charge a tip. If the restaurant does not share that with the server, then that is between the server and the restaurant.
If, as has been explained, the MSC is a way to offset the rising cost of menu items, then why charge it only to large groups? That makes no sense to me.
I have also read that the MSC reflects an effort of the restaurant to provide a reasonable wage for the waitstaff, which again would indicate that tip would be unnecessary, and also leaves the question of why only large parties get to participate in this largesse.
I always thought it was to make sure the server(s) did not get stiffed by a large group. Serving a large group may require enough effort and time to constitute a very large portion of the server's hours, and getting stiffed would be more impactful by the large group than a table for two. For example, if Mr. "I never tip more than 5%" were in charge of the bill, the server would have a bad night indeed.
But I wouldn't be surprised if it was also a way for the restaurant to get a hand on some of that tip money.
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