804,
My experience with noobies runs close to yours, though it may have been a bit more positive than yours. Reasons? Maybe because I'm selfish and choosey about who I will spend my time with to help them out.....I don't participate in the Intro Pilot Program because there is an inferred obligation to take on all comers whether I assess them as company I will enjoy or not, and also inferred motivation to grow the dues paying members of the club and AMA. I feel neither that obligation or motivation. Maybe just a different perspective on what constitutes success........if they take on a continuing interest in modeling it's worth my while, active or passive, whether they join or not. I believe the 2 million figure for non-AMA modelers you mentioned a couple of posts back is probably a lowball estimate, but more importantly that your reasoning as to why they don't belong is right on the mark.
There are supposedly a couple million flyers out there who don't belong to the AMA, but they don't need to belong.
That observation of yours apparently was neglected by marketers of the PPP, and IMHO that oversight was fatal to that program. Indies like being independent, park flyers like to fly in parks..........not exclusive, regimented compounds carved out of them.
Among other reasons I have for doing it is exemplified by a recent experience with a young family that happened by while walking their dog and had previously watched what we do with interest, as close neighbors to our flying field. A couple of kids got to do some buddy-box flights and btw learned that we aren't menacing their neighborhood. They have regrettably not been back tho, as I was looking forward to. Did I waste my time spent with them? I have no regrets, and doubt that you would either.
cj