This is true, but the only reason Uber could get to a large size was that local governments (mostly) ignored it for a while, often over the protests of taxi com

This is true, but the only reason Uber could get to a large size was that local governments (mostly) ignored it for a while, often over the protests of taxi companies. With building, they are more likely to come down, hard, on the very first building that isn't up to code, if it's done by a newcomer (existing incumbents might get away with it longer).