> Can you blame people for trying to make a career out of it when that's how Uber and Lyft marketed themselves when they first started to grow?

If Uber/Lyft really marketed it as a viable career option, then yeah, they definitely hold some responsibility there. The vibe I got was that ride sharing was something you could do on the side for fun, or maybe to/from a long commute or something for some bonus (but not sustainable) side income.