For $50, you definitely didn't get screwed.
Check out the E Maxx forums on Traxxas.com, too, there are a lot of very experienced guys on that forum, too.
There are a ton of Maxx guys on beatyourtruck.com, too.
Nothing wrong with RCTech, don't think I'm telling you not to come here, there are a bunch of guys here, too, that know their stuff.
But there is no such thing as too much information when you are trying to figure out what you've got.