Amen to all said Graham...particularly that regarding Bob.

As for myself, I'm in very similar shoes as another member (I believe it was Bluepoet) who suggested to be a late-bloomer of sorts.
It's only now that I'm actually considering affiliation with a PRO, yet I'm in no hurry considering a lot of what I'm seeing about them.
I'm always drawn to the "think tank" atmosphere. Whether or not we can make a difference in a huge way, we may make a difference amongst ourselves. It's a start.
I can easily see how the direct-accountability suggestion could potentially extreme. As has been suggested, it would be wise to ask what percentage of royalty funds comes from venues in the first place to help decide whether it matters.
Also, I would agree that many venues should be exempt completely, simply due to their size, type of performances, and frequency of performances. As well, I feel open mics should be exempt. If Willie Nelson is concerned about being paid for the first-time a brave and daring singer takes the stage by using one of Willie's songs, then Willie has likely forgotten what it was like for himself in the beginning.
The more you discuss details, the better a blanket fee appears to be....strictly due to ease. Yet, there is so much injustice and abuse to that method, and so many people going unnoticed that it seems a crime. As well it seems to be contradictory to the entire concept of being "represented".
Pardon me if another post pops up duplicating some of these thoughts. It appears I've lost one in cyberspace somehow. Not sure what happened.

-gary