Pre-Uber, I probably spent $100/year on taxis / shuttles (Los Angeles). Post-Uber... I'm hesitant to look at my bank statements.
Now, I take Uber at least once a week. Going out with friends? I'm going to spend money on dinner/drinks anyway, what's an added $10 in Uber fares to save me 40 minutes of public transportation? Every time a new type of business replaces an older model, the market size necessarily increases because the new model is faster, cheaper, better, etc so new customers are attracted.
I don't get why taxi companies aren't putting all of their resources into creating an Uber like infrastructure for themselves right now. It's clearly the way of the future, and 10 years from now the traditional model of standing on the sidewalk with your arm raised until some taxi driver feels like picking you up will be long gone, whether they like it or not. They might dig their heels in the ground and try to pass legislation all they want, that's just the way it's going. Their only chance of survival is trying to beat Uber at their own game, and every day that they spend lobbying in Washington or putting crappy ads on buses [0] is a day lost for their cause.
Interestingly, their massive popularity doesn't seem to be because of ease of use, but security concerns. Especially since a couple of taxi drivers robbed and killed an NDA agent. I met a few people here, that would never wave a taxi from the streets at night and some taxi drivers that wouldn't pick up one. By using the app every ride, driver and passenger is logged.
The apps are very well done and for me a perfect example on how you take an idea from somebody else and apply and sell it to your local market. My country, Switzerland, is unfortunately always far behind on nice things like this.