I agree with both of the above. In addition, I think a lot of the paranoia surrounds the intentional vagueness of the following statement: "Failure to comply with the AMA Safety Code may endanger insurance coverage." Lots of people are not comfortable with vague statements. Couple that with the nature of the Internet where mis-information can be very difficult to correct and the lack of skills at the AMA for handling Internet brush fires, and you can predict that these little flare-ups of paranoia will be with us for a long time.

In my mind, the truth is so boring it just doesn't make it to Internet threads: The purpose of AMA insurance is to protect and promote the hobby/sport of flying model airplanes. We elect the leaders of the AMA to use their wisdom in making sure this tool (insurance) has the desired effect. The insurance will not protect and promote the hobby if the AMA makes a practice of denying claims (and then loses in court). Likewise, it doesn't help the hobby in any way if they pay claims where the person liable was willfully, intentionally, or criminally trying to do something dangerous. It's up to us to elect leaders who can find their way between these extremes. From what I've seen so far, they seem to have done a pretty good job.