[quote=Beta]
So did Kiri (Zabuza). So did Taki (Kakazu). So did Suna (Gaara - Chuunin Exams). So did Iwa (Deidara).So the excuse "LOL BECAUSE PAIN WAS AWESOME" is really a rather droll attempt at reasoning.
[/quote]

The village also showed how terrible the great nations treated the smaller villages, and is a reference to how powerful countries in real life exploit and ruin weaker nations. I always admired the rain village for bringing that aspect into Naruto