I figured this might become the case once we saw the new item system, and well, I was right! Red Shells are very much overpowered, yep even more so than the Blue Shell now! Before like in MK7, Red Shells were nothing too special since they're easily defended against with the item boxes pretty much always giving you defenses and being able to carry two items, but now all that's gone! You can only carry one item and there are items you could get that won't defend you.

Because of that, there are common scenarios now where taking Red Shell hit's is pretty much unavoidable no matter what you do. If the person behind you get's triple reds, then that's it, you auto-die! If you go through the item boxes and you get a Coin, Blooper, or Piranha Plant, and the guy behind you get's a red shell, then once again, you insta die! If the person behind you times their Red Shell to hit you after you pass a row of item boxes and you block it, but then the opponent get's another red shell, well, you know!

This is also why I would never backspam anymore, as come the next item boxes you can and will get a coin, and the guy behind you can and will get a red shell, and why Acceleration is more important than ever, as both breaking away from the pack and maintaining the lead is much much harder with all them hits you'll be taking! I mean just look at the video below! I got hit so many times, thanks in part to getting the coin item, and especially at 0:25, I got nailed by a red shell, slowly fell off the track, instantly blue shell'd right as Lakitu puts me back on the track, then finally wrecked by yet another red shell. I really don't think I woulda won that still if my acceleration were any lower! xD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nucog3-3uJE

Red Shells have a decent chance to fail to hit cause they hit a player that got in the way or the environment instead. Also if your smart and in the lead, you keep your banana/green shell/air horn(gotta get the timing down for this tho) for such situations. Sure RNG can screw you (coins) but this game has always had an element of luck. I actually support only having 1 item at a time. It would be even more hectic overall and easy for 1st place to remain in first place if it stayed.

Red Shells only feel OP when your opponent gets 3. Especially if your online and someone makes sure you are hit multiple times.

You make it sound like I don't like this! 

I always try to have acceleration as best as possible with each character I use, especially online since people don't show mercy with shells and stuff. If I get hit, I need to get on the go quickly, because I may lag behind if I take forever to recover. Funny enough, I think I'm more fearful of Green Shells, it's like I'm a green shell magnet, they are always bouncing to me from the side or up front.

I've come to cherish every green shell or banana I get. Red shells are at least when I use them pretty much useless. I remember firing a triple red in short succession maybe a few seconds in between and none of them hit. They were a lot more useful in earlier games when there was not so much going on on the tracks that could block them.

The biggest danger I found are not red or blue shells, but flashs. Defense items are at a premium and an item that makes you lose your last defense is just terrible.

I like a bit of balance but still focusing on speed. Usually only picking Medium (Luigi, Ludwig, Yoshi) or Semi-Heavy (Rosalina and Waluigi) characters. I stick with karts like Mach 8, Circuit Special, or Sports Coupe (eventually Gold Standard) with Slim or Slick Wheels (eventually Gold Wheels).

If I ever go light characters (usually Shy Guy) I go max acceleration with a bike (no like in-side drift bikes tho). Don't really touch Heavy characters cause of poor handling/traction.

Green Shells like to backfire on me.......

As you saw, I feel your pain! I believe they're larger and bounce around longer, atleast it certainly feels that way!

What!? I mean this is basically Mario Kart 8's online in a nutshell!

Yes they suck, but they suck a bit less this time. Triple reds are rare for 2nd or 3rds to get. A single red you will almost always be able to block. Unless of course somene threw a flash just before -.-
Not even mentioning that half of the reds are defeated by the environment.

A bit less this time? You can't be saying Red Shells in MK8 are less powerful than in MK7, especifically after I explained how only the opposite is true! Being rare to get doesn't change the fact that you insta die when they do get it, which they will, and the coin item makes it so you cannot always block a single red. Plus there's the whole two red shells in a row thing. And much more often than not, Red Shells will find you!