[Si Coe]

It doesn't matter what rules you set, someone will always 'bend' them. People claim they want close, level playing field, low cost racing, but offer them an advantage and they all go for it!
The deal with stock motors years ago also proves the point that manufacturers need their stuff to be better than the rest too, to shift product. For a very short while we did have a level playing field, until Trinity changed the game with the Paradox (and sold a lot of motors as a result).
But its not just manufacturers. Dislike the 'need' for a timing advance esc? Blame the first person in your club to buy one then. Because until they got theirs you didn't 'need' one to be competitive because you weren't at a disadvantage. They got it to gain an edge at the expensive of a throwing a load more money into the sport, and now you have to keep up.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - controlled, low cost racing doesn't work. People will always search for an edge......