Every sport fisherman with his own boat has eaten a $5000 fish. Just tell newbs that there are used row boat options.
Tracks need to start posting a flyer on the wall that completely lists the cheapest, but decent setups, for each class.
Every racer knows they can get a Turnigy charger for $29, or a Servo for $25, or ESc for $50-80. And the Trackstar 17.5 for what.....$30?. But getting that info down to newbs is the key. That info just isn't out there. Especially if said newb approaches the guy with neon lights in his charger case.