If it's not visible enough, they turn their attention to other, more financially viable activities. Sure you've all heard all of the horror stories about people nitpicking models, and anal judges, and all those similar circumstances. I can tell you that we are NOT that. Sure there are the occasional jerks out there that think they know everything. Fortunately they are the exception not the rule.
Most members are people who just want to have fun with the hobby.
Most members that I've met are more into seeing models than nitpicking them. So don't let that reputation run you off. Take a look for yourself. Come to a show, attend a couple of meetings. If the meeting format doesn't suit you, there's probably another chapter not that far away.