Is a profit of $394m one year sufficient indication that this kind of criticism was wrong? As far as I recall, Uber lost quite a bit more money than this each year since 2016 so they'd have to repeat this a few times if we're to believe this is them hitting long-term profitability.

Also my memory of Uber critics weren't that they'd never be profitable, but that as a business they aren't quite as unique and untouchable as their valuation suggested (which, given the number of competing companies that operate in my city, is correct).