caravanman
Engineer
This may seem insignificant at first but Amtrak does not promise free hot water in coach (with or without a tip) and when a new or infrequent passenger boards expecting free hot water they're likely to be disappointed and blaming Amtrak staff. Better to be upfront on something like this rather than implying one thing while meaning another.
I see that you have altered your own avatar tag description to "sarcastic misanthrope". Hmmm...
The hot water has always been given free to me, I do not speak for anyone else. I am happy to give a tip of 50 cents or so by my own choice. I do not feel that is misleading, or confusing the issue... It is in my view fairly insignificant that I can obtain a cardboard tea cup of hot water without charge.