Nuupter, thanks for your reports.
Are you going to try Centaurus? Since you seem to enjoy high-value spots in SP, you might like it even though it's not as good as it used to be. Maybe someone who's been there recently can chime in.
I've never had an issue with Uber in Rio, but I did have a couple of squabbles with cabbies (both times they tried to switch a $100 bill with the $2). I lost the first one, but stood my ground the second time around when I knew the drill. Those bad seeds do exist, but in my experience they're rare. BTW, depending on where you wanted to go in Jijuca, the Uber guy might've been concerned about his safety. I have no idea if that was the case, but Rio cabbies still seem to hate them. I heard from Uber guys that they'd been beaten up, cars damaged etc.