I am not an employee of any RC Company, but as a previous Hobby Shop and Track owner, I understand the need to keep bringing in new people into the sport. This is how we grow our hobby. I've been racing for over 20 years and have seen things come and go, fads if you wish to call them that. The other RC manufacters need to hit the nail hard and swift to ride the public interest. I personally race a Slash, and it is hands down the funnest class I have run in a very long time. It would do the class good to have some competition in it.
If I had the time, place and financial backing, I would design a competitor to the Slash, and have a good time doing it. But, in the end, we are reliant on the big RC manufacterers to make what we want. Unless we want to make a conversion kit for a current model, most garage RC manufacters wont and cant step up to the plate to make a vehicle from scratch.