> So Uber was actually subsidizing every other platform's drivers My understanding is that with the exception of some very specific niche programs, all of thos

> So Uber was actually subsidizing every other platform's drivers My understanding is that with the exception of some very specific niche programs, all of those expenses are paid from the driver's pockets (since, as you recall, they're currently classified as independent contractors). Uber does have a few competitive advantages that IMHO haven't fully materialized yet: they're pretty much the only company in the space with wide global presence, while simultaneously being a big player in more than one vertical. From a driver perspective, it's kind of a no brainer to be on Uber and Lyft simultaneously if they want to maximize the rate at which they get rider requests, but there's no other platform currently where they can get riders and food deliveries and grocery deliveries. Similarly, no other company can tap into motorcyclists and truckers and who knows what other type of workers Uber can reach these days. The way I see Uber these days is similar to how I see McDonalds. McD is certainly not the only game in town when it comes to food (and it objectively isn't the best at it, by any measure), but its brand is recognizable worldwide and they're diversified in ways that you probably don't even realize (e.g. breakfast menus compete w/ Timmies in Canada and did you know Doraemon toy collectibles are popular in China?)