The 502X is a great performer and very durable......has some quirks like anything. I feel some people have a "hate-on" for it because they have so much invested in their 511's and don't want the future to wipe that slate clean. No one likes it when the model they have spare parts, driving comfort, and maintenance know-how for gets deleted, but time waits for no one. I'm sure the 502X will be history soon enough.
RE the slipper assembly: I cannot see how heat from the motor could be conducted through the tiny ball of the slipper assembly bearings and be heating it up significantly. I have pots from my stove that have metal handles welded right to the pot. The metal handles never get hot because they are only tack-welded in three small spots. You need surface area to conduct heat, and I don't see it happening through the bearings (which only truly have contact in a microscopic edge of the inner balls). The slipper is essentially thermally insulated from the motor. I am glad Tamiya included an aluminum motor mount as that works like a heatsink for the motor and keeps temps in check.
My slipper and diffs are silky and I have no problems with settings drifting during a race. I am thinking of upgrading to ceramic balls, but that is after about a year of running the car.
Try tightening your diff a bit so you dont get flat spots on the balls.
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