Alan - who do you mean by "elitist"? I don't care if someone is a billionaire or a pauper - after a few days in the backcountry, everybody looks and smells the same, and are friends. We ALL pay taxes. But"setting aside" 10 to 20 percent of wilderness for potential vehicle or helicopter entry, or a tramway to a revolving restaurant atop a peak like in the Alps for sake of those who can afford to uncork and expensive bottle of wine there? - now THAT is "elitist". Some things are like a priceless vase - if everyone thinks they deserve a piece of it, then they have to shatter it to the point it's no longer of any real value to anyone.
There are ALREADY innumerable potential car camping opportunities all over the West on Federal land as it is, lots of designated 4WD routes, boating reservoirs in abundance. The seriously protected areas and designated Wilderness Areas are just small portion by comparison. And a great many people not only resident to the West, but arriving from many other States and even other countries, deeply appreciate how we've left a small portion of BAwhat still remains relatively pristine.
You mentioned rock climbing. Well, there are places like Yosemite Valley where you can almost drive up to a climb. But most of those climber types cross over into mountain climbing too, and seek out remoter areas. Same with skiers. Many stick to the resort slopes, but there's a whole category of backcountry skiers too. It's more dangerous; but nobody is keeping them out. Off road vehicles are another story - they're banned from Wilderness Areas for a signifiant reason. If they were allowed, it's wouldn't be wilderness at all any more. But that still leaves them with vast areas they can use, and quite frequently terribly abuse, especially in the desert, where their damage can last for centuries. In some places, like my hometown area, 4WD routes are rated from 1 to 5. At the start of one of them is a sign posted on a tree, "Speed Limit : 2 miles PER DAY. Walk any section of the route prior to driving it. Failure to do so may result in injury or death". And that possibility has been proven more than once. No need for more Jeep roads and tracks; just fly over Nevada, they're nearly everywhere.
And I've never paid a fee for the right to photograph anywhere in my life. That kind of thing only applies to commercial shoots which might impede others, making movies, etc. Drones often require permits because they disturb wildlife, disturb the recreation of others, and are a potential risk to legitimate air usage, like fighting fires; they can even cause fires. They're banned even in every regional park and open spaces around here. The last time a Ranger approached me because I had a tripod set up, he asked me where he could still get real film.