I can see both sides here, fuel sales alone will not keep a club going but why isn't the 'take on fuel and we'll ignore the fee' thing a bit more common?
The whole thing seems to be in a downward spiral of charging versus diminishing business. I have rarely experienced genuine good value for money at a flying club in terms of facilities, quality of cafe or general friendliness.
Sorry, but that seems to be the way it is out there - marginalised as a hobby and a publically acceptable way of spending ones leisure time.