My Cambridge (UK) college billed per item, and I not sure you lose all of those advantages.
> It is more efficient -- no need to bill for every item, so just tap your RFID card on the way in.
The items were just quickly added up by a person at the end of the line, then you'd scan your student barcode/tap an RFID card and be billed for that amount. This was never the bottleneck in getting served.
> It is usually billed in the general proximity of tuition, so if parents are paying they can be sure the money is spent on food rather than beer.
You were billed in arrears at the start of the next term, so it was clear the money was going to the college (you could also use your card in the college bar, but IIRC this was itemised differently so parents could check if they want).
> It is nice to take the financial concern out of the nutritional balance calculus.
Certainly nice, but removing trays may skew the balance in other ways (FTA "trayless dining decreased the percentage of diners who took salad by 65.2 percent but did not decrease the percentage who took dessert").
> they can make sure everything that the students get is biodegradable / Plus is is a nice community space.
Most people ate in halls anyway (the accommodation only had very rudimentary cooking facilities), so the first is still doable and we gathered as a group to dine most evenings. You'd also meet other people who happened to go at the same time.
> It is more efficient -- no need to bill for every item, so just tap your RFID card on the way in.
The items were just quickly added up by a person at the end of the line, then you'd scan your student barcode/tap an RFID card and be billed for that amount. This was never the bottleneck in getting served.
> It is usually billed in the general proximity of tuition, so if parents are paying they can be sure the money is spent on food rather than beer.
You were billed in arrears at the start of the next term, so it was clear the money was going to the college (you could also use your card in the college bar, but IIRC this was itemised differently so parents could check if they want).
> It is nice to take the financial concern out of the nutritional balance calculus.
Certainly nice, but removing trays may skew the balance in other ways (FTA "trayless dining decreased the percentage of diners who took salad by 65.2 percent but did not decrease the percentage who took dessert").
> they can make sure everything that the students get is biodegradable / Plus is is a nice community space.
Most people ate in halls anyway (the accommodation only had very rudimentary cooking facilities), so the first is still doable and we gathered as a group to dine most evenings. You'd also meet other people who happened to go at the same time.