Onions: The major difference between Associate members and Regular members are that Regular members can become an officer, vote for officers, and vote on other Society issues that arise. That simple.
PBS was set up to protect the interests of bowhunters after seeing what happened to the NFAA being taken over by target archers. They wanted to make sure that didn't happen to the PBS, very wise!
The Regular membership application process is set up, not to be elitist, but to be protective of the Society by making sure that only dedicated bowhunters have the opportunity to steer the Society