It probably depends. I live in Chicagoland. Cops here are a lot of things, but I can't honestly say they are underfunded. The pension alone is likely worth the risk ( source: couple cops in my extended family ) even if money is not staggering ( and it still not on the low end by any means ).

But to go back to the original query. It is just so much more easier to click couple of buttons than go somewhere and ask questions. It is cheaper too. The convenience trumps most of the other reasons. The same goes for privacy. The convenience killed it.