Not lacquer only, other paint will make the plastic become brittle as well. Unless you buy the newer MG kit like Nu Ver.ka which their plastic is paint friendly.
Lacquer paint was quite popular, they gave a lot of varieties. Take gaianotes paint as example, you can see the types of colors they offered. So there are a lot of people paint their kit with lacquer paint. I think a layer of primer could at least protect the plastic from directly "eat" by lacquer paint.
If you want to use acrylic paints, I would recommend vallejo paints because they also have many types of paint.

So far I don't have any problem with marker pen, been detail up my model kits and they still in good condition. I'm not sure though, maybe cause by the marker eraser, maybe it consist some sort of thinner or alcohol. Although I have marker eraser but I don't use it, I just wipe excessive paint with Mr. Paint Remover. I think you should ask some pro and experience modeler to confirm this and clear your doubt. To be honest I'm not so familiar with paints and thinner things, sorry that I couldn't help you.