There are definitely advantages to both. Sometimes I don't want to lock up a scooter outside where I'm going or have to bring it in. Maybe you're trying to get home from somewhere you didn't scoot to (or go somewhere you aren't coming directly back from).

I wonder if anyone sells the decals so you could hide it in plain site

That's all well and good until one of the chargers grabs you scooter to take it and charge it. Now your scooter has been recharged and placed on a random street corner.

So you're saying we need decals for a scooter rental company that could plausibly exist but doesn't.

Counterpoint, I'd much rather rent than own. I don't have to worry about charging it, dragging it inside (and associated street scum), maintenance, battery lifetimes.

To paraphrase Eazy-E, "throw it in the gutter and go buy another" is the best route. Walk down the street and pick one of the dozens of scooters on the sidewalk.

The problem is that at current costs, you would have to pay close to $8 per ride for renting to break even for firms. And at that point you might as well get a lyft/uber.

And it's pretty worry free, just plug it in when you're not using it and stick it next to your desk or front door or something. They're not very big, and only the small wheels really get dirty, so it's really quite reasonable to own. If something breaks, you could throw it out and buy a new one for less than renting, and you don't need to worry about paying per use or finding a scooter if you're in an odd part of town. And if it gets stolen, go back to renting until a new one is delivered. Or keep two so you can ride with a friend occasionally and never worry about being out of a scooter for a couple days if one breaks or gets stolen.

These are all things that take more effort than just renting. Not everything in life is an economics decision.

I pay less than $3/ride, and I ride maybe 3-4 times a week, not everyday.

Perhaps a deterrent to ownership is a fear that thieves like electric scooters even more than bikes? I suspect only fleet scooters can be located via cellular.

If they could be built compact enough they might be able to be strapped to your backpack so you never have to leave it behind. At least for the common case where you are taking the scooter to the bus stop and then from the bus at work you are able to store the scooter next to you at all times.

Pretty much all the consumer ones fold down in half like the razer kids scooters. It ends up being about the size of a yoga mat and you can stick it between/against your legs on public transport.

they are pretty heavy tho... even with the folding it find them pretty awkward to take on transit

Bought a scooter for $400 on Amazon, and it paid off in less than 2 months.

Anyone who loves the scooters enough will buy one on Amazon for $350 because it pays for itself quickly. I did. Great for getting around a 1-5 mile radius.

At best the rental micromobility economy is transient until all the people who find electric scooters genuinely useful buy their own. It often ends up costing as much as an Uber to get anywhere anyway