TCA, LCCA, MTHRRC, etc... all started off as wonderfully noble endeavors. The TCA was started at a time when the hobby became a hobby- that is, those pre-WWII kids became interested in their childhood passion once again and had the disposable to afford trains for themselves, their children, a cominbation, or for their children but really for themselves ha. But this history isn't anything 90-95% of this board doesn't already know.
As far as closing off York, see how that meshes with the TCA's version of the "10 Commandments" aka their bylaws: http://www.tcawestern.org/TCA%20WD%20Bylaws.pdf
That said, the TCA and NMRA have served most admirably in creating standards for toy trains. Further, it is relatively, easily accessible to gain membership in the TCA. Further, it offers benefits to its members as do the LCCA and MTHRRC, which, while representing their respective brands, both offer incentives to joining. At the same time the TCA provides resources to the public, i.e. non-members, and IMO ultimately has a goal of keeping the hobby going.
The market economy for toy train manufacturers has enough barriers of entry. Hence the cycling of those 2nd or third tier brands like Industrial Rail, RMT, etc..after Lionel, MTH, Atlas. To put barriers of entry on customers would just be even worse. I'm not making an argument that says the hobby is dying or that it's not, but I am making an argument that closing off the biggest Toy Train meet to the public and restricting it to TCA members only is a bad for business for all manufacturers and sellers. At the Allentown Spring Thaw I saw more kids than I had seen before at a train meet, and, to my delight, heard one crying on the way out that he didn't get something- just like I or my brother or father would've done at the age of 4 or 5 when leaving a toy show or train show with my Pop. The TCA and NMRA hols things together but also allow access and information to toy train operation and collecting. Closing off large events such as York is a "turn off" to would-be or future collectors, enthusiasts, etc... and certainly wouldn't be in the best interest of manufacturers or vendors.
