I've rented at locations where I met the guy who was renting the property. Like, literally shook his hand to close the deal and got handed the key, then wired the money straight to his account. Then dialed him up and argued with him over this or that shit falling apart on the premise.

Management companies don't run everything. Plenty of indie landlords exist. They tend to be the most awful people to deal with, simply because they start out thinking they can just do all their own maintenance and then decide its cheaper to... not. Tipping them is simultaneously more sensible (because they're ostensibly also your handyman) and less sensible (because they're amateurs when they do the work which is rarely if ever) than tipping the on-staff plumber or electrician for a big corporately managed unit.