When I first got into LiPo batteries, 25C and 40C packs were very common. Heck, I even used 20C packs that came in 1/8 scale RTR truggy... I do not recommend that at all! I'm not sure of the actual number back in 2010, but 80C discharge rated packs were considered top tier stuff.
Nothing really bad to say about Traxxass's batteries... I've never used them. Are their C rates closer to actual discharge rate values? If you really want to go down a rabbit hole, just go look up articles/posts on where LiPo battery cells are made/produced, then keep reading about discharge rates and how the number have come to be what they are now. SMC Racing had one of the best writeups when "fake" C rate numbers began to go off the charts.
Traxxas likes to make things super easy for new people coming into the hobby. Their marketing team is over the top great at what they do. Like stated earlier in other post(s), it's their proprietary stuff that they use on the RC platforms, that highly suggest their electronics should be used, is kind of a turnoff for some people.
Every brand of batteries has The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly posts out there in www land. Are there better alternatives? Take the numbers off the battery pack labels and go shopping.... now we're back to square one and the fudgin' of numbers to get more attention. If you like the batteries, treat 'em well, and they should treat you well.
Good luck.