Thanks, Slimejock, for the your informative, if lengthy post. Starting out in the sport can be rough and most people must know exactly how you feel. I even had a serious, advanced player say to me that he was not for promoting the sport because even worse congestion would result. When I first started playing a few years ago, public courts were all that were available. That situation is starting to change. Since then, one badminton-only facility opened up near me and I took a chance at joining, even though friends warned that it would be expensive, cliquish and that no one would play with me. But because of it's proximity and great playing conditions, I stuck with it and in time have found lots people to play with.
As for your view that badminton is viewed as a foreign, mainly Asian sport, you're probably right. I don't know your ethnicity, but I (Asian), too, have wondered about the comfort level of non-Asians coming to a facility that was near-100% Asian. It's my view once play begins, everything else is forgotten.
I think it is true that most Asians tend to be less outgoing than people from other groups, whether for cultural reasons, shyness or language difficulties. Most, unless they grew up in the West, are reluctant to approach strangers because that might be considered presumptive or agressive of them and they would prefer to mind their own business, anyway. So, when stepping into a new facility filled with Asians, if no one comes forward to invite or greet you, don't take it personally. Exclusivity in Badminton is much more a matter of skill level - whether you can play a good game or not.
You are right in implying that most clubs exist for their clientele and not to promote the sport. If the clientele is abundant, they have even less motivation to promote, although popularization would be in their best interest in the long run.
Judging from your interest in the subject, though, you will not and should not give up on this great sport that you can play for the rest of your life, barring disability (there were even wheelchair badminton teams in the recent Paralympics in Bangkok last year). To my great regret, I gave up the sport in college after hitting myself (in a particularly sensitive place) and lost 35 years of skills development. It's a lot harder to take up a sport at age 55 than at 21. So, don't give up. Play at school, college, or public courts if you must.
PS, If you see so many kids standing on the sidelines, why don't you invite them to join you?
