The problem giving Nitro a bad picture is with those cheap chineese garbage.
Over here in Holland (and I think everywhere) starters do not want to give a lot of money to their first car and those who want to have a nitro do buy a 200 dollar or less car with an engine giving very soon problems, for sure if it has runned on the lean side. Those guys do not blame theirselves or the car but the technology.
When there is a larger budget for a new car they buy a new RC car with a different technology like 1/5 petrol or an electric because friends or forums with such cars also do tell so. On a large Dutch forum there are some people very busy telling not to get a Nitro because all kind of problems, some of those guys do not even have an experience with nitro but are telling what others do tell.
When there is a new and larger budget of about 500 dollar they mostly buy a cheap 1/5 petrol car like a Yama because those 26cc engines are "always starting and running". The funny thing is that afterwards these guys are still facing all kind of problems because the poor quality of the electronics and plastics while with that budget a good quality and reliable nitro is possible.
Regarding the racing scene... Be aware that many bashers comunities with these cars and thinking excists and not many people step out to do more than bashing.