You're missing the point that the meter is not the property line in the USA. At least I hope that's the only thing your rambling is missing. And arguing semantics about taxation on a public service is stupid. It costs more money to staff the hotline to answer calls than the cost to maintain a shutoff valve to your property because all the costs are born to the homeowner and service subscriber already.
Incase it wasn't clear, this is NOT true in almost everywhere else in the world. My properties outside the USA the utility must maintain to high standards all the way through my meter which is located on my property, but usually in my dwelling. All the subterranean pipe, the pipe through the foundation, the pressure regulator, the backflow valves, that's all owned by the city and I can't touch it. But I also don't pay for it when it breaks. And when it leaks they dig the ground up and fix. That's NOT how it works in the USA.