I don't get why companies can't figure out how to make this profitable.
Reach out of an open window like a reverse drive-through?
Maybe eventually each apartment will have one or it'll be subsidized by delivery platforms.
Separately, there's a very cool startup called Pipedream that does autonomous underground delivery robots that are kind of the next iteration of the concept.
That sounds hilariously abusable.
on the other hand, if it removed some traffic noise which is equal or worse than drone noises...
Perhaps some two-wheeled contraption, of the pedal-power sort?
OK, it's not as private or comfortable as your own vehicle, but I'd rather be in public but able to read/dream/listen than in private but having to concentrate on the road. (This of course requires a public transport system which is safe and not full of crazies, I understand that's a problem in those US cities which have it).
Granted, there's only a few dozen cities in the world that do it that well.
I sure hope that my neighbour's drone delivery doesn't produce collateral damage if it flew near my property. Otherwise, i will have to shoot down the drone.