ORIGINAL: Iturnright
OK, heres my .02, it may be that in certain analysis that large electrics are more expensive than nitros . All right, that might be true, I don't know for sure, however what I do know is that electrics are for the most part smaller than nitros . That means that it'll be cheaper, especially when you factor in AMA costs. Also, there are no where near as many regulations as nitro, just down to individual field regulations really.
Did AMA start offering discounted memberships for electrics only members? I'm not sure what you mean when you say "there are nowhere near as many regulations as nitro..." Are there specific regulations banning nitro planes?
I suspect what you are hinting at is buying electrics and flying in places like school yards and abandoned lots allows people to bypass AMA. This is mostly due to the fact that electrics are smaller. One could do the same thing with 1/2A size planes. While this might seem to save money in the short run, it also causes people to miss out on some important parts of the hobby such as learning from people with experience. It also puts people, and the hobby, at risk because even little electrics can cause injuries.
Whether someone begins with electrics or nitro doesn't matter. However, it is important that they learn the right (safe) way to fly, and for this joining AMA and seeking assistance from an instructor is way more safe than flying alone in the local school yard.