Testing is different than a permitted taxi service.

The permitted taxi service allows them to scale up and charge a profitable fare. In the testing phase, their fares are severely reduce.

Cruise can charge full price without a driver, but Waymo only has the permit for a backup driver at full proce.

Anecdata here, but every waymo car I've seen here in SF for the past several weeks (probably 30+ cars) has had a safety driver.