For me, the convenience of Uber was always in the predictability of when the car would arrive. Flywheel (http://www.flywheel.com/) has finally effectively solved that problem for regular cabs, after half a dozen apps tried. Anecdotal conversations with taxi drivers indicate that they are pretty happy with the Flywheel service as well - it is definitely the best received app by drivers.
Using an app that seems to treat driver's more fairly is worth something to me, YMMV.
How does FlyWheel differentiate from other apps such as, HailACab in Austin, that seem to offer the same three primary benefits?
You mention the experience for cab drivers. Do they have some sort of smarter queuing or other benefits?
It seems all these apps address the consumer facing side of things, but to truly address the driver side, wouldn't it make sense to leverage data to try and better predict needs or routes so that there is less time lost waiting or traveling between fares?
Using an app that seems to treat driver's more fairly is worth something to me, YMMV.