I like it too. Nobody's looking at you. You get to eavesdrop on everybody else's conversations and thank your lucky stars you're not stuck with those people for the rest of your life. And you get to chat with your single co-diners if you want. Eating with people is also fun. It's nice to be able to have both. Not be so scared of one that you settle for an awful version of the other?

Same answer applies for the public restrooms, more or less!...