Cutting driver pay whenever possible is the reason black box pay systems were created in the first place. And leverage is an important ingredient in making pay cuts possible.

A driver who’s away from his delivery area looking to be paid something for the return trip back will be more willing than usual to accept shitty offers because it’s “better than going back empty”. That willingness on the part of the driver is LEVERAGE for Uber, and Uber is ALWAYS seeking leverage.

In this case the leverage weapon is the DF.

When we had rate cards Uber had to pay drivers fixed rates even when they had them over a barrel such as the scenario above. Now that Uber can lower pay rates anytime they think the opportunity presents itself that’s exactly what they do.

Thus they can pay LESS for DF rides.