The way I see it is that you should act the way you would in any other similar situation. Putting down tables should be something Mages do, but at the same time people need to be polite about it. If you go to a store, you expect the salesperson to help you, that's why they are there. However, you are still polite to them and appreciative of the work they do. It's the same in BGs. Appreciate that they are doing their best to help you. A simple "thx" can do wonders, and it's not like it takes a lot of time and effort to be polite. Hell, you can even create a macro that does it for you if you feel like it's too much effort. It's not "being treated like royalty," it's basic etiquette, something which many people seem to lose entirely the second the game starts up.

By the same token, mages should realize that other classes also spend their time and money to get their buffs. Last time I checked, Prayer of Fortitude was not free either, so when a Priest casts one on you, be appreciative. Realize that Warlocks do i fact have to use up a soul shard. If you expect them to be nice in order to get your table, you have to be nice to them to get there buffs. It's a two-way street.

What it really boils down to for Mages is the fact that since the first time the rolled their little dress-wearing, staff-toting, fire-throwing ball of awesomeness, they have constantly been seen as vending machines and nothing else by many players. When we make a table and then don't even get buffs, we start to wonder why we are even here. So when a Mage doesn't make a table, ask yourself if you are really trying to be polite and kind to them, and appreciating what he does. If you are being considerate and polite, and the Mage is just refusing you a table out of spite, then he is just a jerk. Feel free to deny him buffs and heals as always. But if not, then try asking nicely. Use something other than "table plz". You'll be surprised how much using entire words will ingratiate you to a good deal of Mages out there.

Remember, that little table the Mage put out is a gesture of goodwill. Do everything you can to keep that goodwill flowing.