Honestly, Traxxas isn't as bad as some people think. Yes, they have their problems (lawsuits on other companies, weak RTR servos, ESCs with weak internal BECs), but they also have their assets. Besides, no one is perfect. Traxxas has strong aftermarket support, and their customer service is also...
I don't see anything wrong with having a racing vehicle. As far as I know, racing vehicles can be just as durable as bashers, but that's just me, so go with whichever one is your top choice.
Associated just came out with the Pro4 SC10. It's $320 for brushless without the battery, so you might want to put that into consideration:
https://www.associatedelectrics.com/teamassociated/cars_and_trucks/Pro4SC10/RTR/specs/