Your point about the lifecycle matters. Checker Marathon cabs were not cheap but they were durable. The Model Y is a fragile vehicle. If people are getting in and out, the seats will get dirty, the doors will fall apart, the windows will shatter, the door handles will break off. Those Tesla door handles are not meant for 50 cycles a day.
Tesla is so far behind Waymo. One can only imagine the desperate scrambling taking place behind the scenes. It's hopeless.
Your point about the lifecycle matters. Checker Marathon cabs were not cheap but they were durable. The Model Y is a fragile vehicle. If people are getting in and out, the seats will get dirty, the doors will fall apart, the windows will shatter, the door handles will break off. Those Tesla door handles are not meant for 50 cycles a day.