That is what is indeed openly touted but it is also a greater truth that without the spell of "fear factor" instilled and the provided "antidote" of insurance by the AMA it would be a certainty that AMA would not have survived until today. I am one that regrets deeply that the AMA only survives due to insurance because of the fear of modeling.
Well I know a few other aviation based organizations that survive quite well without the insurance benefits included in the price of membership. It's real easy to say that the AMA would not be here if there was no insurance, that's because you have no data to back it up, it's just a hunch.
How do these other organization stay afloat without insurance? All of them provide magazines. All of the provide internal support and liaisons to a higher authorities to keep their organizations where they are today, safe and happpy. All of them provide event sanctions (yes, sanctions don't always need to have insuance included) and an array of benefits to their enthusiasts.
So who would keep the restrictions away from the aeromodelers if the day ever came there was no AMA, you? There would only be a pathway so guys like Chuck Schumer and Co whom presume our hobby "could be" dangerous, without some kind of National body (150,000 members) to protect it, in his case would be 100% right. Members would remain members because it's been proven to work in other hobby orgs that DO NOT provide insurance, the data is alive and working. AMA does not put any kind of fear into anyone. Headlines and these threads put in the fear .... but when I goto to the field, I see nothing but pleasantries.