Our DDE card recently expired, we waited to renew it because we weren't going back to DW for several months.
I am not sure whether we will get another one due to this policy. Not that I don't want to tip 18%. We usually tip 20%, using the discounted amount made that easy. So in most cases we would actually save 2%, although if we had excellent service I would tip more.
But I don't want an automatic 18% surcharge when we receive poor service & then have to spend time debating the charge with the poor server or management. I also don't want a 18% surcharge automatically added to the cost of one drink at a bar nor at a buffet.
I think we would probably end up not using the card at every restaurant or bar that we are entitled to, just to avoid the automatic surcharge. Maybe that is what Disney is hoping, that the DDE card buyers continue to purchase the cards but not "claim" thier discounts as often.
I also agree with the OP, I don't think I want to pay Disney $65 to have more control of my vacation dollars.
We were thrilled with the card last year, saved a ton of money. We also noticed better treatment from our servers, when we volunteered that we would be using the DDE card. I mean eventually it's going to come up in conversation during the mutiple times we were asked if we were on the
DDP. They usually ask at the hostess podium at least once if not twice, then the person who seats you asks, then the server asks, so we usually do tell them we have the DDE. But I wouldn't want them to know until the last minute now.