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The hobby is broad (and changing rapidly). The media and public conflate the different uses. It was mostly stodgy model airplane fliers who regulated themselves through a community group (Academy of Model Aeronautics), somewhat like how gun owners might follow NRA's rules on gun safety at a range (and pass a test first).

The bill would have the newer parts of the hobby (like those aerial photography drones) join in the self-regulation that AMA has been doing satisfactorily for ages. Sensible and not very controversial for most.

But it also puts the hobby directly under the authority of the FAA in a way that it hasn't ever been before. This gives FAA the ability to impose new regulations directly on hobbyists without the input that would happen in either congressional legislation or community group standards.

That is an epic big deal from the point of view of the old hobbyists and the new.