Then what is the purpose of the W3C in this case? Many years ago I tried to get a membership to the W3C as I wanted to provide a voice for a company I worked f

Then what is the purpose of the W3C in this case? Many years ago I tried to get a membership to the W3C as I wanted to provide a voice for a company I worked for (and for myself, honestly) but found out that the lowest level of membership was many thousands of dollars. How can anyone who isn't already very well established ever be properly represented there? Then you check out WHATWG and, as far as I can tell, there are never fees associated with being a member and participating.