"No problem" seems situational I will cop to that. My OP was referring to certain waiter bro I once had at Tavolino:
5-6 times during the course of an hour plus meal. Water, plates, bread etc.
"Thank you"
"No problem"
"Thank you"
"No problem"
"Thank you"
"No problem"
"Thank you"
"No problem"
"Thank you"
"No problem"
I'm sorry but that is a problem up there with "Do you need change?"
Conversely, as someone has already mentioned, there is a time and a place for 'no problem' or 'no problem at all'. If you make a special request of a server and they deliver, when you say 'thank you' a 'no problem' is accurate and acceptable.
This happened today to get me thinking about it again:
Getting salami at Whole Foods today and I asked for 'pretty thin please'. The girl delivers with a great cut and I says 'thanks that's great I appreciate it" and she says 'no problem at all'. Feels good man.
Then I get cheese with no special request and as she hands it to me I say 'thanks' and she says 'no problem'.
Minor, AND I REALLY SHOULDN"T BE PISSED EL D, but I'm ok with finding that mildly grating.