That's a hypothetical ("if the regulation limiting the number of cabs had not been in place") made real exactly by Uber/Lyft. Let me put it this way: Hypothesi

That's a hypothetical ("if the regulation limiting the number of cabs had not been in place") made real exactly by Uber/Lyft. Let me put it this way: Hypothesis: Too few cabs mean more DUIs Experiment: Add more "cabs" Expected Result: More cabs will lead to fewer DUIs Uber/Lyft is the Experiment. The argument about other Experiments is irrelevant. Sure, less regulation could mean more cabs. But that wasn't the Experiment. That counter argument is logically equivalent to saying "Drones, Blimps, Automated Cars all could have been cabs. There's nothing special about Uber/Lyft". There the difference is between a hypothetical and an actual result. I'd also add that Uber offers far more than just "More cabs". It offers more safety, convenience, and trust. The driver is known, the car arrives when you are ready, and you don't have to haggle about not using cash.