While that's all true, if you're buying $20 Holmes motors, you're buying bottom-of-the-barrel in the Holmes lineup. So comparing that to a nice sensored brushless setup is apples to oranges. And there are cheaper brushless setups out there as well.
Why are you screwed if something goes wrong...
With modern sensored brushless setups, there's really no reason to go brushed anymore. My Pro4 in my Wraith will happily crawl right alonsside my Homles brushed setup in my comp rig with no issues. Nice looking build.