Yeah, there are real regional variations. I think the problem Uber has is that they’re valued like a high-end tech company (with locked in overhead like compensation) but they don’t have much of a competitive moat. They can have a better app and global reach is a plus for frequent travelers, but at the end of the day their profit is anchored by how much a taxi costs – even if the service is better people only value that so much, especially in a down economy like the one just created.
They've created a business model any metropolitan community can duplicate for practically nothing, and the first community that does so will share their notes with the rest of us.
People should be asking themselves if their service is a quango waiting to happen, because most of them definitely are.