this is why I don't use an android device as my primary phone, even though my perception is that you get rather more bang for your buck, hardware wise, on android phones, and even though the samsung gear VR looks like someone implemented one of my less-realistic fantasies.
On IOS, yes, uber asks for access to my contacts list, I click 'no' and uber works just fine (modulo the 'spam my friends' feature, which I didn't want anyhow.)
On an android, my understanding is that I've gotta chose between giving uber permission to spam my contacts list and simply not using uber, which is sad, because uber is way more convenient than a yellow cab.
This contributes to the perception that because IOS is paid for up-front, apple is willing to do things that might make apps less profitable, if it makes those apps better for the users, but that Android, because it is paid for by advertising, is less willing to side with the user against the app providers/advertisers.