From what it sounds like, this is just a classic takeover and consolidation of a power clique. I was at the inaugural meeting of a charity a year or two back. There were people already putting measures in place to try and exclude ordinary members from voting on certain matters... And the use of deliberately obscure language to exclude. Nowadays it barely resembles what it was set up to be, and is not run by the people who founded it. Atlas Obscura sounds the same but is in a slightly different arena. Also as I say above, I don't know what their long term strategy is... a subscription channel or tours etc?