Yes, they (brushless motors) appear to making more inroads than they did even just a few years ago. I've been away from the hobby for a while, and it just seems like some new brushless idea has popped up every so often for at least the last 10-15 years, during the various down times in my professional career that I've had to play around with R/C stuff during that time frame.
I ain't really panning on them, at all. Heck, I'd like to play with one sometime in the future myself. I just don't think they will totally wipe brushed motors off the scene anytime soon. Not even in the next 5-10 years.
What will be interesting to watch is how the tech does evolve once they are generally accepted by sanctioning bodies and are purchased and raced in numbers high enough to lower their price all the while raising interest in them. I think the ESCs that you mentioned Tom, ones that can operate both types, are a telling sign that this "coming of the brushless" is more serious than past attempts, indeed.
Anyway, sorry for sounding so harsh in one of my first posts here since signing up. Personally, I've been away since the touring car came along this time (my last R/C purchase was an original 1 belt HPI RS4) and am now looking to get into some oval action in the next year or so. I was never too keen on carpet, so it may be Spring when the outdoor ovals open back up before I can get back into the competition mix again. I'm thinking about doing a Legends deal to try and ease into going in circles. Think they'll open up *that* class to brushless motors? LOL! Me either. Not unless they can build one to SPEC spec...