Yes, exactly - its a concession to drivers that Uber never offered. Its one small factor (plus Uber's open hostility to taxis) that I believe gave Grab an edge in the regulatory negotiations. When taxis and overzealous regulators wanted a target Uber was easier to take aim at vs the local startup heroes (Grab started out in Malaysia and has always seemed to have better executed diplomacy locally.).

FWIW I'd never wait an hour - manually add a tip, increasing the amount until you get a ride. It's like your own personal surge pricing :D