Uber's ability to skirt cab regulations in particular has always baffled me. They've always argued that their drivers are independent contractors, not employee

Uber's ability to skirt cab regulations in particular has always baffled me. They've always argued that their drivers are independent contractors, not employees, and that they merely facilitate the arranging of rides & fare payments. If that's actually the case, then how are the drivers not textbook cabbies? How does a driver using an app to receive requests for rides differ at all from a driver using a phone dispatcher to receive requests for rides? I can't think of any difference that should exempt Uber drivers from submitting to the same regulations as regular cabbies other than the argument that existing regulations are obnoxiously burdensome and often protectionist.