Ask HN: Whenever flying cars are mentioned is it a weak grab at publicity?

In many old sci Fi movies it seems like it is about this time in "the future" that we have flying cars buzzing about. But there's never any real explanation of how they'll fly, safety, integrating into "airway regulation". So with the whole "Uber flying cars" thing what's the reality on that? Lately it's been "We'll make car-sized drones!" Just bigger engines/motors! It's like that sleek-red, ducted fan "flying car" attempt back then. Now we're trying to make electric vehicles and the problem becomes batteries. Unlike gasoline, batteries don't decrease in weight and maintain the same power output. So, how realistic are flying cars anytime soon. I suppose a VTOL aircraft is a possible solution.