Of interest may be this news release from the CME from 11/27/2000. http://www.cme.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsItem=00046956-E7FB-1A54-B30D80C59A280000 "CME now allows unlimited, direct electronic access to products traded on CMEâs GLOBEX®2 system for all market participants who are guaranteed by a clearing member of the exchange. Previously, GLOBEX2 was accessible only to members, clearing members or those with Electronic Trading Hours (ETH) permits." "CME has eliminated restrictions on the number of GLOBEX2 workstations that members and customers can have."
Some CME links related to GLOBEX fees, clearing fees and IOM memberships. Lease prices http://www.cme.com/about_cme/shareholder_member/about_shareholdermember_leaseprices.cfm GLOBEX fee schedule http://www.cme.com/electronic_trading/globex2accessfees.cfm non member clearing fees- http://www.cme.com/risk_management/clearing_house/fees.cfm member clearing fees http://www.cme.com/risk_management/clearing_house/lesseememberrule.cfm Note, if you trade as an electronic local rather than a retail customer, the firm you clear with will add fees on top of these which are charged by the exchange clearing house.
From what I remember, technically, the margin requirement is zero for daytrades, at least as far as the exchange is concerned. However, since the clearing firm backs your trades they will put a size limit on your account which can vary based on how you trade, your experience and track record with the clearing firm.
I checked out the Gelber route. It does the same thing as your the internet broker you didn't like UNLESS- You are physically located in their trading offfice or have a frame relay connection to their computer. The frame relay has a latency of 20 milliseconds compared with .5 to 2 seconds for the internet connection you had with your broker. A frame relay costs approx $700/ mo plus $2,500 in equipment and set up fees plus whatever the phone company charges for the raw connection.