At the fast food places I go to the cash registers are programmed, the worker simply presses the button for that item, that enters the price.
At my usual Shoprite there is usually an employee by the self checkouts to deal with problems with the machines.
NY attitude-? I lived in NYC 1959-1961, still go there now and then, haven't noted any "attitude". I do wonder about the people who live there, why they put up with it.
My experience with the fast food places I go to-McDonald's, Burger King, now Chick-Fil-A is that their portion and quality control is good, they do a good job of training people.
Using a kiosk ? Not much different from shopping online as opposed to in-store shopping IMHO.
At the Burger King I usually go to with my 2 friends we joke we often have
the dining room to ourselves.