I think rc changed with the number of bashers out there. Used to be a fair mix, but now there is a flood of cheap chinese cars out there that you just run till they break. This, I think, has both helped and hurt. When they came along, all the good stuff either closed up shop, or had to get cheap, as well. Now, it is mainly cheap stuff, unless you want to spend a lot. I don't think rtr, itself, had anything to do with it. People are completely capable of totally screwing up kit builds. The better way to go, instead of telling people to get a kit, is to give them a list of things they should check and tricks they can perform to make their car better, even if it is rtr.