The big difference is that before, the tip you picked before placing the order directly reflected the offers that the dashers would see. If you put no tip then very few dashers would be willing to take the order. This is what effectively made it mandatory.
Now dashers won't see tip variance in offers, it'll effectively be post-service from their perspective.
From the consumer perspective, yes, you can tip before you have the food in hand, but it's no different than if you had gone back after delivery and added a tip.
I don't really see what your remaining point of contention is here.
> From the consumer perspective, yes, you can tip before you have the food in hand, but it's no different than if you had gone back after delivery and added a tip.
When you visit a restaurant, do you give a tip to the wait staff when you place your order or do you wait until after the service has been rendered?
Generally I don't have a choice as you tip when money is exchanged. At some places that means when you place the order (but before you've gotten the food), and at others it means when the bill is satisfied at the end of the meal. Other times the tip is forced so you don't really have a choice regardless (unless you want to go above the mandatory amount).
However, the change with DoorDash is now it doesn't really matter when consumers decide to tip since it won't be known to the service provider (well, I suppose DoorDash themselves know, but the dasher does not). Previously the tip impacted the offers dashers saw, so opting to tip after service would impact the service being provided.
Now dashers won't see tip variance in offers, it'll effectively be post-service from their perspective.
From the consumer perspective, yes, you can tip before you have the food in hand, but it's no different than if you had gone back after delivery and added a tip.
I don't really see what your remaining point of contention is here.