Sam, I get your points. I presented a contrary view because it hadn't been brought up yet in the discussion, It was mostly the money and time issue, which I understand completely.
Considering that I did show up and jumped thru all the hoops of the day in armed forces training, yes, I do show up with a student's frame of mind. It doesn't mean that I've turned off my analytical thinking, tho. When the instructor noted I was heeling the gun too much, I saw it was correct, and adjusted. I didn't mind, I was running on two hours sleep and it was 2:00 in the afternoon.
Is liability on a range a legal issue? Sure. Skydivers and race track drivers all sign the waivers, it doesn't stop the lawsuits. Just trims them down. Do I chafe at a Land Speed Record car that is street legal be required to have door bars that are difficult to use? Yeah, too bad. The organization has it's reasons. If I don't like it, I can go elsewhere.
But like a lot have said, too few instructors on the circuits are in it to teach students a wide variety of technique. They are all about their specialty, with it's arcane rules. It's like choosing which martial art to pursue, and if you are Krav Magna, open to any move and any responsible discipline with no Masters or Sensei, you aren't appreciated.
Males always tend to set up an hierarchy of authority and then require conformity to the peer structure. I don't blame an instructor for keeping a lid on the monkey dancing and sharpshooting that could happen, it would divert the class and be a waste of forward momentum getting the agenda accomplished. What's missing is that many who would attend bring that with them - they are there to improve their sociological ranking and don't care to take a place where they actually stand.
Major league shooters are supposed to conform to sociological stereotypes - Todd Jarrett or Col. Askins. If they wear glasses and aren't the average physique, they get dissed. Goes to why Mas Ayoob has his detractors - they simply can't respect his skills, it gets involved in other "demographic" issues.
Who's the qualified expert on sight: the buffed out martial arts instructor of Cobra Kai, or some old dude who's a handyman and gardener?
Who markets better on film or in photos?
Let me throw this into the discussion: Frankly, I'd rather be taught by an accomplished female shooter in a class of women. The stupid ego game is usually off the table, real instruction has a place to happen, and the cooperative point is to learn from each other if there's something to say.
That's nearly impossible to achieve with a group of male students, as soon as one attempts to jockey into a lead role, he gets challenged and the learning atmosphere of the class drifts away in the wind. It becomes an 8 hour monkey dance.
I've had all I want of that the last 40 years. It's counterproductive and a waste of time. So, if it IS necessary to wear polka dot shorts and a diamond tiara to attend a class I know will be conducted in a positive attitude, so be it.
I've tried it the rote, stereotypical way, and it's really just a grating experience where no respect is given or even attempted, regardless of past accomplishment.
Just saying, that's another reason why some don't go. It's not that we can't check our ego at the door, it's that 15 or 50 or 200 others simply won't.