I had better pay when I was delivering newspapers as a teenager. This was many decades ago (when people bought their news on dead tree) and a lot of inflation

I had better pay when I was delivering newspapers as a teenager. This was many decades ago (when people bought their news on dead tree) and a lot of inflation as happened since. I didn't see my paper round as a 'proper job', but I think the inflation adjusted rate comes out to at least double the £8 per hour that Deliveroo riders claim to make on Glassdoor. I didn't have to pay rent since I was living with my parents, my income was purely disposable. Some numbers: late 1980's, my Sunday paper round took five hours and earned me £30 not counting tips. All done by bicycle. I also had a morning paper round and an after school round delivering the local paper. On the back of these 'gigs' I also had gardening, baby sitting and other jobs from my clients, making my childhood wages now seem positively 'over-paid' compared to what passes for 'gig economy' nowadays. I believe my take of the newspaper sale was around 20% with a delivery charge of 5 pence. Bicycles were just for kids back then and working for pocket money (not paying taxes or expecting benefits like holiday pay) was okay given I was at school. Furthermore, all my work was chargeable, I was not waiting around for someone to click on an app. From this perspective I find it crazy that this Deliveroo phenomenon has happened. I aspired to do more than ride around delivering stuff in all weathers. Fortunately I did move on to 'proper jobs'. The Deliveroo drivers are kind of with the pigeons in terms of London's pecking order. Although 'gig' economy, they lack the opportunities my humble paper round offered for 'up-sells' plus there are some venture capitalists creaming off what should be their cut. How did it all come to this?