Timothy - I thought we were in for a little debate, but then you spin the usual party line.
By all means go on encouraging people to join AOPA, PPL/IR etc and remind everyone what a good job they are doing. I have no doubt they contribute to the process with varying degrees of success.
The fact remains that less than 10% of the GA population sees fit to join - if I were selling something, it would rather make me look at how I was going about it, than having a go at the punters.
Still, I have no doubt AOPA et al think they know best.
History on the other hand would suggest it is actually their call to make.
Thee is an old saying about waking up and smelling the coffee but it is difficult when you head is beneath ten feet of sand.