Ok, I see where you are coming from, but as far as I can tell for the majority of cases it seems that uber/lyft drivers are effectively running small businesses

Ok, I see where you are coming from, but as far as I can tell for the majority of cases it seems that uber/lyft drivers are effectively running small businesses (notwithstanding the PR efforts to convince people it is "on the side"). So the realistic comparison is what other earning can I do in that time, not "sit on the couch", so the TCO comes in.