The problem is it's very variable and you don't know it if you are visiting somewhere. I had a great experience in Madrid, and terrible in Lisbon with normal taxis. Could be just luck of the draw, but with Uber at least if I'm in an unfamiliar place I have some accountability if it does go horribly wrong (taking a long journey for example), with English speaking support.
Cab companies and drivers, unsurprisingly. I love how Uber and Bolt changed the experience of using a taxi during the last decade.
Anywhere in Europe I go, I can count on a good service - 10 years ago it was absolutely terrible. Broken down cars that the drivers probably used to sleep in taking you on a much longer route than necessary and overcharging you for that. One time a gangster like that took me to his gang when I used a phone with GPS to call him out on his route. No thanks, never again.
