I'm aware they are legally "contractors". It's bullshit.

There HAVE been lawsuits, yes! And DoorDash lost the class action that alleged they misclassified its workers as independent contractors when they should be classed as employees. They paid 100mil for that, and that's just one case.

But don't just take my word for it. Here's Californias labor laws on the test for determining employee vs contractor;

Under the ABC test, a worker is considered an employee and not an independent contractor, unless the hiring entity satisfies all three of the following conditions:

• The worker is free from the control and direction of the hiring entity in connection with the performance of the work, both under the contract for the performance of the work and in fact;
• The worker performs work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business; and
• The worker is customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, or business of the same nature as that involved in the work performed.