[jollybean]

If by 'downhill' you mean 'their business expanded massively and they became a global phenom', then yes.

They were never necessarily professional drivers, and the drivers today are just as 'polite'.

The market for NYC 1% high end cars is very small compared to the value of unlocking the big marginal market inefficiency brought about by medallions.

All of that said - a bit of technology and flexibility by the world's cities and taxi fleets would have made them a lot more money and made Uber pointless.