In my opinion, the major benefit of Uber/Lyft is also the accountability. Having an easily-accessible paper trail of who my drivers were ensures I won't fret about losing things. If I have a poor experience, my rating actually matters and poor drivers are kicked off of the platform. If my Uber driver longhauls me (< 1% chance IME), I can get a refund by complaining to Uber support. Longhauling is more common among cab drivers AND there's no convenient way to get your money back.

No accountability or recourse in traditional cabs.