when we wanted cabs, we'd not know how much a ride would cost until after we got to our destinations

Any cab I've ever been in had the mileage cost clearly posted in the taxi along with all of the other regulations. And they didn't change their rates depending on 'busy times of day'band inflate charges 2-5x as much.

they smelled like rotten farts and were covered in boogers and our only goal was to not touch anything and look out the window because what's a smartphone?

This sounds pretty much like the experience people tell me in any Uber or Lyft, except for the cell phone but you can use your cell phone in a taxi just fine, so I'm not sure why this is even relevant.