Neddy,
Spot On Mate! you described exactly the reasons why so many members have dropped out of AOPA in recent years.
I was a member for my first couple of years in aviation but when I saw a friend of mine, who at the time was a junior CASA staffer, vilified by the then president I tore up every document I had with the AOPA name on it. <img src="mad.gif" border="0">
Unfortunately the boots'n'all attitude still seems to be there. Check out the VP's letter to Mick Toller @ <a href="http://www.aopa.com.au" target="_blank">www.aopa.com.au</a>
If I received something written in the same tone it would go into the cylindrical filing container under my desk.