[...] let members make their own trust lists.
Isn't that how it works now...?

Yes, theoretically. Not in practice, because a
default list conveniently exists, and people assume that everyone else uses it too.
The only way to make each member create their own trust list would be to force them to do this. Not giving a default list, but a blank one without any names.
"Ah, but the newbies will be scammed". Not if they wait enough time to know more about the forum and its members before doing business here.
As was said, the elite is only worried about their own pocket and status, the poor and the oppressed defense justify is just a excuse to keep ruling the environment.