Not to mention the door latch constantly locking/unlocking at every stop and making a terrible sound. I don't understand how whoever designed this with the intent that it'll actuate on every stop didn't at least try to make it quiet.

Comparing a Prius to one of those black cabs ("Hackney carriages" as they're called) is like comparing a car to a cattle truck. The former at least attempts to be comfortable, the latter is just designed to move cattle as efficiently as possible (for the operator) without any concerns for the cattle itself.