[alkonaut]

So the point of the author is that as a passenger, I should accept that the system is a weird binary system where 4 or less means "unsafe or should be fired"? Why can't 4 be "A to B without any issues" and 5 is "great conversation, spotlessly cleaned car, threw in an excellent restaurant recommendation when asked?"

But really the whole idea of rating every ride on a single measurement is crap. Flagging someone as dangerous or unfit as a driver shouldn't be part of a mandatory rating process it should just be flagging just like flagging a message on HN. Apart from the obvious safety flagging if the car lacks a seatbelt or the driver keeps looking on TV series on his phone the whole ride (Something I experienced), in terms of finding good/bad drivers, why not just ask some more specific questions. Did you find the driver likable? too quiet? too talkative? Was the car dirty? clean? comfortable? And even more importantly, look at tips. I rarely tip drivers (I'm not in the US so I rarely tip anywhere) but who gets tips should be a better tell of a good experience than any grade. But perhaps in the US where people mechanically tip 20% at restaurants and it's more an expected part of waiter pay than a perk for excellent service, that wouldn't work for Uber?

[jghn]

I've noticed the same thing is happening with rider ratings. In forums like r/uberdrivers what the posters there perceive as a red flag rider rating has steadily gone up over the years. Several years ago they'd laugh at people below 4 stars. Now I wonder how many people see my 4.92 and think I'm a cretin.

[jerf]

I don't believe the author is asking for "acceptance". I think they're just notifying you that that is how the system works now. You may act as you see fit.

I think there's a touch of satire to the whole thing in the tone that you're picking up on. This article wasn't a celebration of this fact by any means, merely an observation of it.