The hijacking of "keep the change"

"Keep the change," that much sought after phrasing all drivers long for has been hijacked by a grouping of people laboring under the traditional social decorum long held by the driver and patron. I had a young man hand me a wad of cash with a shiny dime on top today. His total reached $18.09, he said with pious confidence, and the non-verbal that often accompanies an action in which one person feels as though he is bestowing graciousness upon another person who is in need--squinted eyes, pretentious head nodding, no eye contact, soft voice decibal-- all very bless his heart-esque, "keep the change." I got to my ride to count the booty only to discover the change I was so graciously keeping was not change in the correct etymological sense, but rather was an actual cent. He would have been correct to say "keep the cent." However, how could he say "keep the cent" and feel the self-importance that goes along with saying "keep the change." I've noticed that this gadfly is not alone in his miss usage of the long steadied traditional phraseology. Many like him toss "keep the change" around as if they too belong in the same tipping category as those who use it properly. It has long been a generational tradition in the field of pizza delivering, and any other service oriented career, that "keep the change" most assuredly refers to nothing less than .95 cents, and usually equals a dollar or more. The prideful look on the faces of the thieves as they steal and abuse this ancient phrase sickens me. They should not reap the same benefits (sleeping well at night, sticking your nose in the air with confidence, bossing the driver to bring you parmasean cheese from their vehicle) of those who are properly keeping with correct social dynamics. They should have to site the specific amount they are giving, "keep the nickel" or if that is too degrading perhaps they could subscribe to the idom "keep the rest" or "have the leftovers." We must take a stand against those who are set on running our time tested traditions through the mud or before you know it these cowards will hijack "don't write a check your butt can't cash" or "git er done," and then where will we all be, what kind of socially confusing situations will our grandchildren find themselves in, not to mention immigrants trying to learn our colloquial language systems.