When I started reading your post, before I got to the end I thought - "hey that's a GREAT idea" until I heard the outcome.
She may make 2 bucks an hour and relies on tips?
That does seem pretty non-Gore to me. The place is usually pretty friendly I think. They definately need more tables. Maybe a place to eat on Bear or the summit. They could use a restaurant on Bear to serve leaf peeper season too.
Actually I met some folks who use the warming hut at the summit for bring your own lunch.
Mark