Shanty is correct on this topic. Hobby shops make more from RTR's, bashers, and beginners than they do with any kind of racing vehicle.
ALLSPEED, you have to realize that many racers dont buy their stuff from hobby shops anymore. Most racers buy their stuff from online stores so therefore their not even supporting their local hobby shops. Hobby shops make more money from bashers than racers. Its as simple as that. You have to consider that their are WAY more bashers than racers so then you have to do a comparison with that as well. Is there a 10 to 1 ratio of bashers to racers? or 8 to 1? Even 5 to 1?
Anyway you look at it, Hobby shops make the majority of their money from bashers and RTR vehicles than they ever will with racing vehicles for the simple fact that the RTR vehicles appeal more to people (beginners/bashers/people who just want to have fun and not be competitive) than the racing aspect does (at least for now).