Where I am they are few and far between, will definitely take longer to arrive (if they arrive - no way to know if they are coming or not) and will be more expensive. They drivers will also almost certain try to long-trip you, hassle you for more tips, etc.
Uber isn’t perfect but it’s way, way better than a taxi here
That’s what I do.
Everyone wants stuff for free and I get that. And I also get the “fuck big corporations” stance kinda…
But these services cost money. So we either pay for it directly (and yes they need to make a profit also - this is capitalism) or we have to watch ads. It’s not really a complicated concept. I hate watching ads and have $11 per month to spare so I pay.