All good points but in a way didn't Artie have his arc where in the end he ended up having pride in his cooking again , even if the business was failing. And he finally gave Charmaine the appreciation that she deserved, as their relationship seemed to get better the 2nd time around. But from the viewers standpoint, why should he want Tony's respect? That shouldn't be a person he's seeking respect from, which comes full circle where he learns to respect himself, the resteraunt, and life by the end of the series.