Yes, of course they are a taxi company and they are playing a game of words in pretending not to be.
The reason that they do so is that the licensing rules for taxis protect the incumbents from new entrants.
The reason that they do so is that the licensing rules for taxis protect the incumbents from new entrants.
So for all the other markets, where there is no medallion system or other barrier for entry to the market (other than "expected" things like insurance etc.), that is where Uber is just a taxi. And here they don't even SAY they aren't taxis.
My guess: taxi license/medallions are a relic that is bound to disappear pretty quickly. Since in some places people have to BUY these things, it's obviously not going to be done overnight.
I agree, however until they lawfully become a thing of the past is not fair to people who have bought them (or followed the possibly lengthy procedure of getting licensed)