Bennny, like you I started out with a Traxxas Slayer and enjoyed it. Got a Revo after that and beat the living crap out of it and never did one single part break, which amazed me because I literally bulldozed it into doubles from 10 feet high at full speed MANY times...
I agree with most here that Traxxas deserves respect for what it's done to get new people like you and I into the hobby. Great RTR packages at very competative pricing.
But once I tired of bashing and took my Revo to a real track I realized that there was so much more! Those buggies were killing me on the jumps and turns...
And like you, I bought a Losi. The 8ight-B 2.0 RTR to be specific. The end. It's like driving a ferrari compared to the Slayer or Revo.
But like some here said, all the higher end companies owe a huge 'Thank You' to Traxxas.