There are a number of options to outsource professional magazine printing in volumes from a few dozen to a few hundred or more by sending Publisher documents online to whichever printing company. I would be surprised if it would be an impossible logistical challenge to set up a printed subscription on top of digital subscriptions, since the associations already have the resources to create the magazine content. Maybe it is a case of inertia taking over.

I totally agree. One of the reasons (but not the only one) why I quit the AGA was because they stopped publishing the printed magazine. I dislike reading magazines online. The weekly coin magazine I subscribe to started to publish one issue a month as an e-mail version, which I rarely read, and so I feel cheated on my subscription. In my opinion most people spend too much time online anyway and the ability to get away with a good book or a magazine is very important to me.

Regarding the AGA magazine in print, at least, the reason they stopped producing it as a print publication is because the costs associated with it were consuming a huge percentage of the annual budget at a time when they were running a deficit. Layout, printing, and shipping are quite pricey, and they AGA does not have a huge number of members to take advantage of economies of scale.

I know that, but when it is the sole benefit of being a member its loss becomes significant. I supported them for years because I thought it worthwhile, but in the end I decided otherwise.

I'm not a member of the AGA, but I doubt whether this is actually the sole benefit that members get from the AGA.

Apart from anything else it obviously runs a rating system, website and news feed, an annual Congress and several other tournaments, some of which lead to professional qualifications, and selection of international representatives. Also it helps spread the word about Go.

None of these things happen over the long-term without an organisation and funding, and I would regard it as part of the price of being an American Go player to support the organisation with my membership. I haven't looked up what the membership fee is, but I doubt that it is significant for most people compared to other sports and pastimes.

Sadly, too many people regard the intangible benefits as being unimportant. You won't know how valuable it is until it's gone.