Most of this year I have run both Tamiya 417 and Xray T311. Both were much cheaper to run than my Schumacher and Photon.
Tamiya parts are extremely cheap. Xray parts are incredibly expensive, or overpriced given your point of view, but I have only changed 2 ECS pins in an entire year. So, although you would never believe it, the Xray was actually the cheapest car I have ever run. The rear driveshafts have no slack in them after a year, its so precisely manufactured, in high quality materials in the first place it doesn't develop slack easily.
On the 2012 upgrades, I think this car is going to be right on the money. My 11 has a similar spec and its by far the best handling car I have ever had. Every single upgrade has made a positive improvement to the car which you can feel on the track - Bulkheads, Gear Diff and Tamiya style steering set up.
Wide set up window, easy to drive, fantastic corner speed, durable and long lasting. Its going to be the package to beat