Free hot water?

[Alesia]

Is this for a sit-down restaurant? If so, to me, that is like bringing my own can of soda to a restaurant because I don't want to pay them for a soda. If I misunderstood, I apologize for my presumptuousness

Of course not.

I stated counter-serve in post 2 & 3.

To be completely honest, I don't see the difference. If anything asking for free stuff at a CS location is a little worse. At least at a table service location, there is the possibility that you could compensate the server by adding a bit more to the tip.