12 years ago when I was flying several times a month I considered pattern but did not have a pattern plane, nor the money to get one.  Nor did I have a flexible enough schedule to be able to plan for regular events.  I would have jumped at the chance to be in this "club" class, however.  And doing well at something like that promotes moving up into Sportsman and above.  In fact I might have found a way to stay active after I bought my pattern plane instead of having it sit on the shelf for years.