Typical inexperienced marketing by those that have no experience outside the Harvard dream lands.
Do you have any idea how many companies have offered free website listings with paid print listings both NFP and Privates? THOUSANDS. Again, AMA did not invent the idea, they are riding the idea off the coattails of other successful print media ideas. Sometimes things change to move with the times, this is a move which many have done before the AMA decided to take it upon themselves.
Interesting enough now for those with interest in aeromodeling. Now those that want to use piggy-backing AMA for their own selfish, commercial interests, well I suppose whistles and bells do attract that sort.
Right, believe it or not right now you are discussing a conversation right here on yet another successful business model, RCUniverse.com, which is loaded with bells and whistles to attract RC enthusiasts. Commercial interests or and NFP trying to find methods of attracting more members? Either way one compliments the other one. It's a win win for all, for revenue streams and more memberships. Think about the future, not about the rest of your modeling life.