They choose it because "I prefer a cab company that doesn't spend money on licensing/car inspections/paperwork"

I choose it because I prefer cars that actually show up when I wait for them. As far as I can tell, a taxi dispatcher is a placebo with no influence over where drivers go.

In Europe?

Thats not why the customers choose it. They choose it because now that everyone can be a taxi driver the cost goes down and so they get the same service cheaper.