You must've missed my point. I would too. However,
> There's no comparison right now, but there will be soon.
The things that I just listed are the things that are already happening, and their VCs haven't even started demanding their money back. And this is all if everything goes swimmingly for them. No massive regulatory hits, no demands for insurance, no declaration that drivers are employees, etc.
For some reason I feel safer and more comfortable with Taxi drivers than with Uber drivers. I understand the whole background check thing, and that helps. But a taxi driver, whether you like it or not, is a full-time professional. Whereas an Uber driver is just somebody with a gig on the side (usually).
Taxi drivers less frequently ask me overly personal questions. Taxi drivers in general don't seem to give a fuck about their customers, and I've come to appreciate that. When I'm hailing a ride, chances are I'm not interested in exchanging life stories, or being impressed by how cool my driver is.
In a crowded city, the distance is welcome.
edit: one more thing -- Taxi drivers invariably know the roads better. Sometimes that doesn't matter. But in the event of traffic problems, or if you're really in a rush, it helps tremendously.
> There's no comparison right now, but there will be soon.
The things that I just listed are the things that are already happening, and their VCs haven't even started demanding their money back. And this is all if everything goes swimmingly for them. No massive regulatory hits, no demands for insurance, no declaration that drivers are employees, etc.