TBH I really don't see what the fuss is all about.
I am not (nor will I ever be) a team driver, but I still enjoy racing team drivers at my local club. I only ever race the clock... that's the only way I know if I am improving or not. Sure, it's nice to finish 1st (or 2nd, or one place higher than last time), but I only started in this hobby in Jan 2009 and I have a lot to learn. My lap times have halved in this time... now I am only taking 10ths or even 100ths of a second off my time each week.
If a team driver has a better chassis, or better electronics than me then they have earned the right to use these things. It's no different from other forms of motorsport where the independent racers have inferior equipment to the works teams. One day they will impress someone enough to be offered a works drive.
Just imagine how much more satisfying it would be to beat a team driver with your 3 year old ESC and motor
My 2p worth (about 3c in your money
)
Daniel.