If you drive an Exceed, of course buying an Xray will make you faster. lol?

I would be faster round a track in my Honda Type R than my wife would be in a lamborghini, does that mean the honda is better, or just as fast? No, of course not. I'm not sure what you're trying to say here, of course individual skill will be the biggest factor, that is obvious. If you're comparing MODELS, what does the squishy (human) component have to do with anything? I would agree that hte gap between Exceed/Redcat and HPI/Traxxas is not as wide as it should be, but the gap between Exceed and Xray/Mugen is a bloody gaping chasm.

Of course there are exceptions, but not many when it comes to the actual cars (not engines, servos, whatever, we're talking about the models).