I spoke with the FAA rep at Expo personally and he knows or at least says, WE the AMA guys are NOT the problem. They want us, and this is his quote "In the tent when the rules are made, not outside the tent".
I can also tell you that we opened his eyes to many of the issues facing us, including the ramifications of 400 feet to the hobby. I don't think he understood that clearly before. He was also invited to, and accepted an invitation from a VP and club to come see in his own eyes what we are all about and maybe get some buddy box time.