Unfortunaltly Agripper isn't the only one who paid - I can only sympathise I joined when I bought my Sabre but got no benefit. I am sure that it is well intentioned but it looks like a closed shop to me. I never heard of any AFV society events or was invited before they happened and the members area had nothing in it of any use.
On a positive note the forums were very useful but of course you dont need to be a member to use them.