Individual people are still awesome for the most part. We're on the subject of Egypt, which is a perfect example of this. Walk around Cairo and you'll meet amazing generous people who will go out of their way to help you with no expectation of reward. Just folks proud of their country. Let your guard down a little at the right time and you'll find yourself invited into people's homes and having amazing experiences.

But you also get to see the bad part of human nature. This last trip, I had walked my family well off the beaten track on a market street, past all the tourist junk and deep into the hammer and fish head district. There was a busy little tea house on a side alley, so we headed over to sit down.

Before we could cover the 50 feet down the alley, a guy hopped up from one of the tables, ran over and directed us the last 10 feet to the table. Thus appointing himself our middleman for the transaction (as I'm sure anybody who's been to Africa or the Mideast has experienced). After our 2 teas and the kids' 2 Karkade, he presented us with the bill: 80 Egyptian Pounds. The price you'd expect to pay at the Hilton in downtown Cairo.

As it happened, our table was right in front of the sign with the cafe menu printed in Arabic. I pointed at the top line: "This says "tea." And this is the number "two" next to it.", and offered a £10 note.

Oh no, there has been a mistake. This is the old sign. A quick back and forth between middleman and Actual Waiter, then the bill is settled and the middleman disappears into the back, never to be seen again.

I don't really mind the dishonesty and Tourist Prices in Tourist District. But it's grating when you can't escape it.

Still, the good people and experiences always find a way of balancing out the bad. It's well worth going.

The OP said these apps are a practical way to not get screwed as an individual traveler.

I didn't read any negative generalization about the citizens of these countries.

Also there are many posts here about taxi drivers of developed countries (the "oppressors" if you want to be reductionist).

While there’s some truth to what you’re saying, the taxi drivers at the train stations/airports are the worst parasites. They’ll stay there all day waiting for somebody naïve enough to pay triple the regular price.

Pre Uber the taxi drivers in Amsterdam were similarly as awful and I don’t remember the Dutch being exploited any time recently.