Good question. It seems to me that OASIS is in the process of
becoming a W3C member organization; it certainly should be. I've put
in a request for an update on this and will let you know as soon as I
hear anything.
I have way too much sympathy for the feelings being expressed here to
argue the point any further (which is a point about tactics, not
goals). A number of people have told me over the last year how much
they wished they had the money to buy a W3C membership. In their
position, I would feel exactly the same way.
So go for it, and good luck to you. And if you folks do succeed in
developing a model for a sustainable W3C member organization that
doesn't kill you in the process, I don't see why you should stop with
just one. How about regional chapters?
Jon