Red items are still the s*** what are you talking about? With fake item boxes not being able to affect other items anymore there are less ways to stop them.
Also Blue Shells SAVED Mario Kart Wii from being a disaster. They are the only item that can prevent 1st place from being the easiest place to defend. Once you get a little ahead, 2nd-4th soak up all the badass items that everyone behind them gets while they only get the occasional red shell to do some forward damage.