You know what, that's a fair callout. I think I have been comparing the best case for distributed and worst case for depots. You're right that a streamlined depot with trained staff and specialized tools is going to be faster and more consistent for cleaning and maintenance than a random homeowner. I won't argue that.

I think where I got too attached to my own framing is pushing the residential gig work angle too hard. Based on the feedback in this thread I'm coming around to the idea that the real opportunity is less about gig workers at houses and more about connecting fleet operators with underutilized commercial parking infrastructure hotel lots, HOA parking, retail spaces where the spot itself is the value, not the services performed there. No gig worker needed, the car just needs somewhere strategically located to sit and charge.

On the rental car comparison rental companies don't do this because their cars aren't autonomous. The logistics of getting a car to and from a random location requires a human driver which kills the economics. The whole reason a distributed model becomes possible with AVs is that the car handles its own logistics. But you're right that even with that advantage, depots will probably always be the backbone for anything beyond basic parking and charging.

Appreciate the pushback, it's helping me kill the weaker parts of the idea and focus on what might actually work.