Eric,

Don't be intimidated by the repairs, embrace them!

You weren't around in the days where almost every R/C car started off as a box-o-parts-n-pieces, and the guy who bought it had to assemble it.
That was me in 1998, when I bought an MRC MT-10M (my first hobby grade R/C). A Sophomore in high school putting this thing together on a work bench in my parents basement.
It took me 2-3 days to put it together, but when it was done, I knew every nut, bolt, screw, gear, Etc.


Traxxas was one of the pioneers who started the RTR and ARTR R/C.
It was nice for the really young hobbyist who may have a difficult time assembling something, but on the same token it took away from the experience.
When you put something together your self, you have allot more intimate knowledge of its inner workings, plus the confidence of being able to fix/troubleshoot it when it breaks.
Now that most things are RTR, all people have to really go by is the parts schematic. Even still, with careful attention to how it comes apart, it should be fairly easy to fix it. Of course you also have these forums to help you too.

Worst case is taking the pieces to your LHS to have them throw it back together