On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 22:57:19 -0800, Justín Käse
wrote:

In posted on
Thu, 17 Feb 2005 01:14:14 -0500, Ham Guy wrote:

But having a ham license gives freebanders access to equipment that
normally would not be available to unlicensed individuals. Some
retailers will not sell gear to unlicensed persons, nor will some
hamfests award prizes to those who hold no license, offering an
equivalent cash value instead.

Where does that idyllic situation exist?
Many "Ham" shops will sell anything to anyone, if cash is flashed,
regardless of whether they hold an appropriate license for its use.

AES in Wickliffe, OH did this for a while in the late 1980s, but they
may have discontinued the practice.
There was also a hamfest in Pittsburgh that had a license requirement
to claim any radio prizes. If you didn't have a license, you got cash.