And mature it did...right into AOPA II.
Frankly, if it weren't for getting a discount on my insurance by being a member, I doubt I'd keep my membership up any more. I let my AOPA membership lapse years ago as there was virtually nothing in the organization for me. The same is quickly becoming true for EAA (if it hasn't already).
I don't mind an organization's managers doing what's necessary to protect it. But if 30 years go by and the organization didn't feel the "need" for some program or policy, why do they "need" it now? What's changed? Doesn't appear to be any significant risk here, based on 3 decades of data.
"Everybody else is doing it" is NOT a valid reason, IMO. "The lawyers told us we had to" isn't either. Neither is "I'm afraid! Something BAD might happen someday!".
As others have said...show us demonstrable risk that is non-negligible, and an analysis of all options to deal with such a risk if it exists, that leads to a cogent mitigation plan. Not just what other people *say* is "best practice".