Just a quick comment to what has already been said about the AMA insurance. If I am not mistaken the AMA coverage is an "excess" policy over what you have inforce with your homeowners policy and possibly your "personal umbrellas". This coverage is, while not always nessicary for those who carry umbrellas is a great deal for ANYONE flying... Take it from someone in the insurance business that NO ONE gets coverage for under $5.00 a year!!! It don't happen. An umbrella policy minimum premium is $250.00 usually. Even if the whole $58.00 went for the insurance alone it is ONE HELL OF A DEAL!!!! Believe me when someone slaps a law suit on you for dumb thumbin a plane into someone and you see your entire life savings, kids college fund, home, etc going down the drain as well as trying to pay for a defense lawyer to explain your ineptness or "how you got shot down". You begin to realize how cheap a little extra protection is worth.
I for one look at the AMA as GREAT DEAL!! I would gladly pay well in excess of what the dues are just for the insurance.. To me the rest is icing on the cake. Take it from someone who plays with Lawyers for a living you don't want to go without it... To coin the words of the largest property insurance carrier in the US.. (no affiliation) Your in GREAT HANDS with the AMA.. By the way be prepaired for continued increases in the insurance... Companys and reinsurers are going to get back the Billions the paid out in the 9/11 incident. No matter what they tell you , it is going to happen, count on it!