You lost all credibility when you said it was “less about the costs”
I recently hired a mid -level manager from McDs strategy team and it’s at least 90% about cost reduction. They’re watching the adoption curve, because older and urban demographics still mostly order at the counter and refuse to use the self ordering lines. That’s why they offer free fries and free upgrades at select locations for using self ordering to force the greater adoption.
Also they’ve started reducing headcount in locations where adoption is higher, but still limit hours to hourly workers.
It’s all right there if you want to believe it, but good luck with the spin.