You are really on target about gross weight, price and adding Cessna 150-152's. The 150-152's are probably the least expensive birds and continued expenses to keep airworthy are minimal. If the FAA really-really wanted to help out the pilot then moving the category up, as you have defined, would change the total "landscape" on the topic.
Aviation has never been a budget sport for most people. I do remember, as a graduate student 30+ years ago, paying $12 per hour WET to rent our flying clubs Grumman AA1. Great Memories!
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