Yeah, in the same way that a bottom of the line Honda with a Type R sticker slapped on it would make a good substitute for a race car. While the "R" on the sticker seems to indicate it would be competitive in a race class like the GT2 class in LeMans, it really can't because it was never meant to.

My theory is that most companies that already sell 2 stroke RC car engines have no reason to make competing 4 stroke engines. Here's a hypothetical: Let's say one of the popular companies makes a 4 stroke that is actually competitive with their 2 strokes. They now have to make 2 varieties of engine, parts support, keep more inventory on hand, and it takes sales away from their already successful 2 stroke engine lines. They would likely lose money, especially once another company decides to compete, prices drop, and sales are spread thinner among the competing companies and engines.

This is why I think the 4 stroke "car" engines we've seen are all slightly modified airplane engines that fit squarely into the novelty market, not competing directly with the mainstream RC car engine market. Yes, with enough work, you can make them competitive - but it was never their intended purpose so it costs more than it should and it's not easy by any stretch of the imagination.

The only companies it could possibly make sense for would be companies which don't currently sell to the RC car market, such as Saito or YS... but even they would be taking a big chance trying to create a market for an entirely new (and expensive) product. If they wanted to do that, I think they would have by now.

I'm doing this for a completely different reason. I'm not motivated by money. I simply want what I want - it's my passion, my hobby. I want to do it right from the very start. I'm not starting with an existing engine. I started with a blank sheet of paper, some design goals, and a big cup of coffee. I don't have a corporation to answer to. No deadlines. No investors. No politics. Most importantly, no risks. It's a hobby for me, so if it doesn't work... Eh, no big deal. I'm sure I would have found another way to spend that money, and it may not have been as fun or satisfying.