I remember not being allowed to join some radio clubs because I did not have the proper license. I remember when you had to have a specific license class or higher to be elected to leadership posts in some clubs and, I believe this is correct, in the ARRL itself. This kind of overt segregation does not exist to any great extent today, but there seems to be a more insidious segregation going on within the Amateur Radio community. I refer to the letters that are printed in QST and other magazines concerning the inability of newly licensed no code Technicians to make contacts on repeaters because they are ignored. I have heard of repeater administrators switching PL codes to try to lock out newcomers.
More repeaters seem to be closed.
It is my opinion that this treatment of the no code technician probably stems from the belief that some amateurs have that the no code Technician license represents a lowering of the standards of entry into Amateur Radio. I think this is what is happening to Amateur Radio. It is my opinion that to a certain extent, yes it could. It is also my opinion that each class of license carry with it operating privileges that allows the licensee a Full Taste Of Amateur Radio. This means VHF and HF operating privileges and all primary operating modes common to the spectrum allotments they would receive.