Agreed. Sometimes you do have to be a member (blimey - you must grill the poor fans to confirm that level of detail with them ! I just get as far as asking if they're from Italy or Spain or Ipswich or something) but that's not what you said originally - you said they "must be" . That isn't...
I also converse with many new faces and sometimes bring them. The last one hadn't been to a premier league game for three years - he wasn't a member and i upgraded my sons season ticket to share with him.
And Club haven't stopped sharing or wanted to stop it. But , yes, they don't allow you...