I have often found local alternatives to Uber/Lyft, whether it be in Austin or Ireland, and their main value proposition remains: get me a car, quickly, and take my payment digitally. If I have a problem there's always credit card charge backs.

I think competition is the other thing that makes them work. The local options know if they fuck customers over that they'll just jump ship to Uber/Lyft. And same is probably true for Uber/Lyft!