I don't prefer Lyft or Uber to monopoly taxis, I prefer to axe the monopoly part, which seems to have led to terrible taxi service in many places.

I don't want - Drivers that drive like maniacs. Drivers that spend the entire ride on a phone call to god knows where. Drivers who lie to me and tell me they can't accept my credit card.

However, it seems to be conflated that the alternative to that can only be people using their private cars that don't necessarily know the area they're driving in and are by no means professional drivers working in an ill-defined "non-employee"/Employer relationship with Uber.