Even at the buffets in Vegas, where it's of course all-you-can-eat, I tended to get a sense that they'd like to see you open up a table for another group when the place was full. (we felt this at the Bellagio, but that was ten years ago; my brother even commented on it, that it was noticeable all over the dining area, but we really had time to kill, and he didn't want us all to be tempted by the casino. Of course, a well-placed $10 bill to the person assigned to our section got us less targeted for buffet eviction.

).
At the Stratosphere Hotel, though, where my mom and I hit the buffet after an afternoon performance of the variety show there, it was not nearly full - so they seemed happy to have us hang out, to help give an appearance that the place had customers. Nothing is scarier to someone scoping out a buffet than no one eating - images of dishes sitting there since breakfast time come to mind.