It's frustrating. I kinda get it though - the French are proud of their language, and if they've got well-meaning travellers coming through and butchering it in new and inventive ways (particularly in high tourism areas) day in, day out... I can see how it would be grating.

I was in Starbucks on the outskirts of Paris, and ordered by drink in pigeon French, and the barista answered me in English. I answered her question in French, and she answered me in English. This went on for a couple more exchanges before we both laughed at how absurd it was - I asked "is my French really that bad?" and she just says "no your French is fine, but I can speak English better". Fair enough.

I have heard though that outside of Paris though, people are far more appreciative of someone learning the language, to the point of being brutal with it. A friend was out in the North of the country, the locals loved that he was learning, but then let him absolutely sink when he reached a stage of a conversation where he was struggling. They could quite easily have bailed him out in English, but in fairness they made him think that little bit faster to make him learn.