Bob,
I agree with what you are saying in principle. I am just saying, if I was in a gun club, and some guy told me he had never owned a gun, but just bought one and was going to go out in the woods and shoot things up, I wouldn't say to him, "whatever you do, join my club first, then go have at it".
I think it would be in the best interest of the AMA to have members that stick to the principles of the association, not those that pay dues and then go do their own thing, now with the additional belief that whatever happens they are protected by the AMA.
Thanks though, for moderating this great board, and for working to set an example for the hobby.