Realistically, if all I did is fly foamies with brushless motors or park fliers I can't think of any reason that I would want to join the ama. If I want to see new models/setups I'd get a magazine, 3d flyer or whatever.
Flying the parkflier I wouldn't be a bit worried about insurance as I don't think that there's any way one would ever hurt someone short of actually hitting someone in the eye or the prop cutting someone. Probably about the same chances you have of hurting someone playing badmittin, lol, and you don't get insured to do that!
If I only flew in parks then I wouldn't be worried about needing the insurance to join a club.
Maybe the ama can do like it did with powered models. Create a 'nats' or competition base for electrics then make you be a member of the ama to compete? Maybe if the membership dues for the ama were dropped to $15 a year for electrics they could get some new members also but.... I just can't see someone paying $58 year to fly a park flier!!!!
edited to ad
If they keep the same standards and put more into advertising we would truely see who would join the ama for the insurance and who would join to promote/support the ama. I think the last sentence really tells why most people join the ama. Not that the ama is all bad, just that this is probably the main reason most people join. If they ever drop the insurance or put more restrictions on the models covered by the insurance I think the ama is going to come into some hard times... Maybe the ama could work with the fcc to make you join the ama to purchase a 72 mgz radio.... Kind of like if you join an ama sanctioned club you have to be a member of the ama.. I'm not against the ama, just think that they've done some really stupid things to their members in the last couple of years. Getting ready to duck the flames
Just my view :^)