It sounds like he wasn't taking care of the dealer even with all the super fish handing him money.

Absolutely not the case.

I found out later it's room policy to break games that are < 5 handed if there is space at another table. Lunacy!

DT, I think the problem here is that you ask about etiquette, but whom should be the recipient of said etiquette?

1. You don't owe the dealer any etiquette in this instance because you are trying to make your own table better and probably your own action better. You are more of a customer than he is. Dealers often feel an inappropriate level of entitlement.

2. You certainly don't owe another professional (or wannabe) poker player any etiquette, because if you can improve your action by ruining theirs (or mine), then by all means you should. They are no more of a customer than you are. Pros almost always feel an inappropriate level of entitlement.

3. You definitely don't owe the house any etiquette because they are simply fleecing you any way they possibly can, and you are the customer in this dynamic. The house is the house so they're entitled to do whatever they want in this situation.

So who does that leave? EVERYONE ELSE. And if you can get those people to a better table because it's more full, then it's great etiquette to them.

Now if you're ruining my action am I going to complain and try to stop it? Sure. If I'm a dealer and you're costing me money am I going to snap at you a little bit? Maybe. But too bad. You've done nothing wrong. If I can ever ruin your action and profit from it, I promise you I will. And I hope you would do the same to me.