Costco is unique in its food court prices, they must be heavy into loss leader territory at this point. It was a really good deal back before covid, and these days it’s basically daylight robbery compared to anywhere else.
Not only that, but the food kiosks (at my local location, anyway) don’t scan your costco membership either, so you can just walk in the exit and get some food without signing up.
This is true, but it’s not the only factor. Staying private allows a company to not be predatory, but it definitely does not guarantee it - it simply allows the executives to choose. It’s the combination of Valve being private and Gaben always staying true to his values despite his incredible wealth that gave us Steam in its current form.
I’ve known plenty of private companies that were as shitty as a public one, or more. Quality executives are vanishingly rare, particularly at this level of company value.