I think it boils down to regional marketing. Here in the US, it’s the pistol radios that were marketed extensively, and as a result, what sold primarily. My very first radio was an entry level Futaba stick radio that I used with my first buggy, a Tamiya Grasshopper. All my radios after that were pistol grip, because the available surface stick radios at the time remained entry level, while you had many more options with pistol grip radios.

in Asia and Europe, however, you had more options. I’m not sure how much surface stick radios are sold and marketed today in those regions, but obviously, there are some top European drivers using them, and I have no doubt that there are probably some Asian drivers as well, if they are still popular there.