the snaking thing is unfortunate, because even if you don't like it, you are basically forced to learn it to compete and like it or not the game becomes about that pretty quickly. Ways to limit it are to take non snake friendly levels, like DK Pass, dropping is a rampant problem too, you people that say "it sucks to play with snakers so I'm dropping" are worse than the snakers IMO.
It's this mentality that creeps in even when you don't snake, I see droppers all the time if I get out of sight by the second bend (which is quite easy to do against new people, without snaking, good boosts and lines will pretty much get you 2 droppers within the first race). This all results in a poor online experience, I've probably played 60 or so 4 player matches and have finished less than 10 with all 4 players.
I played against 2 guys with 3 stars each the other day and one took one of the insta-win carts, my luigi/vacuum cart combo was no match for him (although I did make him sweat and got 1 race off him), but I had a good set of races for second place over all with the guy taking ROB.