Brushless may not be the only option, but when you look at the cost of brushed vs. brushless once you get out of the realm of cheap can motors, it's not all that much different. On top of that, you have brushes to replace, and a commutator that needs occasional turning and will eventually wear out, rendering the motor worthless. Yes, you can probably have the commutator replaced on many of the fancier brushed motors, but that can't be done by the average modeler, and costs money. In contrast, brushless motors are essentially maintenance-free.