RE: Historical membership figures?
When you look at the graph combined with KE's premise that the PFs have increased it pretty much explains what we see happening in the AMA. I do not think the AMA has outgrown its usefulness, but there are aspects of the AMA mission that will sooner or later dissapear (ie, frequency allocation). I think the advent of the 2.4 Ghz technology will do nothing if not expand exponentially. Combine that with the increasing exposure of the "regular" consumer (ie, Walmart) customer to the PF and AirHogs and you have a diminshed "percieved need for the AMA". Most of the people picking up these type of models will not buy another given their experience with them. Of course there are those that will have an enjoyable experience and go on to more advanced types of flying.
I have no doubt that part of KE's hypothesis is correct, I am just not sure howwe address it, or if it really has to be addressed. In the words of the songwriter, "Times they are a changing".
Tommy