I always thought it rewarded skill better. Instead of blue shells, karts were faster the farther back they fell in rankings, the lack of randomized items encouraged strategy, and if you didn't touch the steering, accelerator or brakes, the boosts would last longer. Plus the music was dope.
For some reason I was just thinking about DKR yesterday. I would love another one! I had way more fun with it than MK due to the story mode and open world.