Clever yet risky. Narrative could be spun as "drivers who could barely support themselves now definitely can't support themselves on their diminished hours because Uber doesn't want to give provide them basic benefits and yet rides are more expensive than ever." If that narrative prevailed, _Uber's_ feet would end up right back in the fire and California would look like a saint.
Uber has more cash to spend pushing the other side of that narrative, how much better off drivers were prior to AB 5. The gambit for Uber is, if they don’t flat reverse this law in CA, NY then WA will adopt it, followed by all Blue States. And then it’s game over for them. They will cost more than a taxi. And taxis will cost more due to the same contractor to employee conversion.
If "game over" is what WA and blue states are dead set on bringing about (vs. unintended consequences) then they and their constituents can have it and deal with the outcome. A faceless corporation doesn't care in the long run, there are always other markets and other businesses.
