While 10/10 times I would agree with you, I have to throw the caveat of “we in a pandemic” out there. My city has been using strawless lids for over a year at this point. Customers had this same initial, “But I still want a straw,” thing, and for the most part people don’t ask for straws anymore.

But right now, when you may not be able to see the person who’s making your drink, when some baristas are notorious for putting their hand anywhere on a lid because they “just washed them”, I think it’s fair to be asking for a straw and not to want to have direct mouth-to-cup contact right now. In fact some stores in random districts around my city have started giving straws out automatically and letting people refuse them.