Honestly think the ratings are a meaningless for riders as they are for drivers. You're trusting a total stranger to judge someome and relay to you whether they are worth picking up. I have a regular customer (exchanged emails) who goes to and from the airport two or three times a month. She always tips me and we chat. She was a 4.2 before I came along, been throwing 5 stars at her every trip. I have also picked up a 3 star (morbid curiosity) and subtly tried to uncover her Uber history. She was very pleasant, said she rides often, I couldn't figure out why she was rated low. Didn't tip, so maybe it was just that old driver "never give 5 stars to someone that doesn't tip!" bullshit. Her fare was over $20 for a 12 minute ride. If I passed her by, I might have sat empty or got a non-surge request. At this point I accept every request and use the rating to judge whether I should kick them out if they behave inappropriately, figuring it is a pattern.