That may be true in London but it's not in Brighton. I've only taken an Uber once and it was more expensive than my usual cab fare. I gave them a second go and when they told me it would a 50 minute wait, I cancelled it and found myself charged a cancellation fee. I deleted the app and find life...
Drivers still have to do the knowledge to get a licence. I lived in London for 22 years and often took a black cab and I've known one not know where anywhere is ... and I lived south of the river!
My father-in-law is a recently retired London cabbie and he certainly seems to know where...