Do you really believe a shift from owning a personal car to just hailing a ride would be comparable to going from a regular cell phone to a smart phone?
I don't believe that to be realistic. There's a long ramp (again 10+ years is probably extremely conservative) to convince people that using a RT would be easier than owning a car. It wouldn't be easier until there's density, everywhere. RT for the foreseeable future will be a Uber/Taxi/Lyft competitor, which isn't a negative. I think a long term goal that a shift of ownership occurs is possible and merits debate, but certainly not imminent.
If you are unable to find realistic how people will always gravitate to things that cost less, provide convenience, increase safety, and offer a better overall life experience, then you live in a world that is markedly different than the one I'm most familiar with.
In this world the Robotaxi offers a number of advantages. Not every advantage will appeal to every buyer, but each can influence their use decision.
Advantages of only using Robotaxi:
Private transport - no driver to deal with (attitude, odors, tipping, mass transit, etc.)
Parking - avoids fees in some situations when away
Repurpose of a garage, carport, and/or driveway space
Saves money and time necessary for maintenance, repair, driving, cleaning, and such
Safer for a wide number of vulnerable users such as aging, children, women, frequenters of drinking establishments and those who share the roads with them, etc.
Never suffer the aggravation of driving in traffic again.
Advantage of Robotaxi while also owning a car:
Reduced wear and tear on personal vehicle that results in lower cost of ownership and keeping the vehicle longer
Avoid frustration of traffic, save driving duties for trips that are more pleasant experiences and use the Robotaxi for daily routines
Advantages of Robotaxi replacing second car in a two-car residence:
Cuts costs of car ownership drastically once all factors are tallied up (purchase, registration, maintenance, parking, insurance, etc.)
Frees up half of a two-car garage for other purposes
Reduced frequency of driving in traffic insanity-inducing episodes
Advantages of Robotaxi used for delivery of prepared food, goods, and services:
Fast food delivery
Package delivery
Medicine delivery
Medical services (doctor sends staff to patient's home using a Robotaxi for many of the reasons above)
Other services that can be brought to the home (pet care, baby sitter, personal care, etc.)
All of which will save both the service provider and the customer time and money while offering convenience and safety
Once AI autonomy is clearly viable, people will be nagging any legislator who drags their feet on making such a life-changing service available. Robotaxi use will grow at an exponential rate (limited only by production) because of the wide variety of aspects it will bring to the user.
I'm fairly certain I've only touched on a few of the advantages and potential use cases, each of which may not apply to everyone. Anyone with a smidgen of imagination should be able to easily come up with one or two more.
Nearly anyone looking at such a list will find something that will apply to them. Mostly because the bottom line will be money saved, followed by safety and convenience as the factors that make such a service a slam-dunk.
I don't consider people who are unable to see this as realistic, as being all that realistic themselves.
Edit: Regarding the
@uscbucsfan disagree, below. I felt it was realistic to presume that you disagreed with the response above. That is what prompted it being written after all.