Taxis in cities with decent taxi systems, in a neighborhood with decent taxi coverage, hailed by waving your hand on the side of the road are fine, and getting

Taxis in cities with decent taxi systems, in a neighborhood with decent taxi coverage, hailed by waving your hand on the side of the road are fine, and getting better by way of competition. I have no qualms with taxis in, ie NYC or DC. Taxi dispatchers, though? Especially in smaller cities? I lost count of the number of times I had a cab no-show when I lived in Pittsburgh.