It is an enormous pity that the taxi industry has not been disrupted more. If better service in every possible way is what disruption looks like count me in. Bring it on.
Other places have recognized the need to make taxi service more modern and less horrible and made changes—having their own ride-hailing apps for the local taxi service, for instance.
Not everywhere is New York City.
Even given its current state in the places you name, I don't believe that justifies handing over billions of dollars to sleazes like the ones at Uber, especially given that the people who do the actual work to make them that money are often working at what works out to less than minimum wage.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
How many people use Uber for the convenience and are not price sensitive? How many people use Uber who have cars but use it so they won’t risk getting a DUI? Heck we use it just when we don’t feel like going through the hassle of parking and dealing with traffic when we go into the city center from the burbs sometimes.