Uber has issues but honestly it's night and day compared to what taxis were like. And they decrease DUI's.
Now if it was instead a website, sure, much easier. No need to create accounts etc, just visit "chicagotaxi.com", perhaps shown on a sign at the airport/station/etc, then book and pay with applepay/googlepay.
But installing some application, signing up, having my data stolen, all to be told "no taxis available", is the reality of a local app.
But big airports have a taxi line. You stand in it, and you get a taxi.
I flew into Washington DC last week, and it was faster to stand in the taxi line than to call an Uber and wait for it to arrive. On the other hand, it was faster to get an Uber back to the airport when I left than it was to catch a taxi.
And of course, certain cities have decent transit systems. Both Chicago and DC (and hundred of other cities) have transit fare cards you can put in the wallet app on your phone. Some, like DC don't even need an account or download. Just add money with the payment card already stored in your phone and go. The experience is better than Uber - assuming the transit system is any good.
1) Guarantee of payment by card
2) Guarantee of receipt
3) Guarantee of going to the right destination
The week before I landed at Dulles and got an Uber. The queue for the taxis was very long, but the wait for Uber was hardly quick either. Last time I took a taxi in DC they refused to take card. That was pre-covid, but why would I take the chance again.
Taxi companies did it to themselves.