Have you ever actually used one of these services? If you can't afford it, the best strategy is to wait. Having driven for both of them - I can say that among my clients have included: A person with felony manslaughter on his record who had to get to his work on time (getting fired is horrible you are a felon because getting a new job is a non-trivial exercise). An enlisted (very junior) military family of 6 (only 4 were in the car) who needed to get some late-night shopping done at a distant walmart. The father was on deployment and only had a high school degree. Because of the high cost of taxis and the inconvenience or slowness of public transit, these were NOT options for them. Not to mention the scores of homosexual clients who were vehemently opposed to taking taxis because of repeated taxi drivers who had harrased them (this doesn't happen as often in a Lyft/Uber because of the rating system).

So, you can rail against the surge pricing, or think of it this way: Because it's something that happens largely during luxury times (e.g. bar closing) that taxes those who are wealthy and have disposable income, subsidizing affordable, safe, and convenient travel for the less privileged during other times.