AG is telling the truth. You can bet that just as any class develops the cost of this one will go up as more people try to run up front. SM may have a few warts, but it is still a ton of bang for your buck. Besides, any cars that close in performance will be scruffy after a few races. Especially club racers who do it as a hobby. It is probably a blast to run just like SM, but mistakes by someone will cause some damage nearly every race.
Opinions are just that, but SM is one of the best things club racing has had to hang it's hat on tha last seven years. Probably the same with IT 20 or so years ago. ( And IT seems to still be a really good thing for club racing ...STILL.) Maybe more folks will do like me and start in SM and "elevate" (thats for you AG) to IT! But just because I changed classes doesn't make me think something is wrong with SM. It is still a super place to race. Spec E30 looks fun too.