anyone can get direct feeds to the NYSE. you dont need to be a member. you just have to pay more money for it. hold has had direct feeds to the NYSE for some time now.
most prop shops use secondary provider quotes instead since they are much cheaper (but are delayed since there are more points to pass through).
anyone know the real benefits of a prop shop being an NYSE member?
my guess is that their institutional guys will benefit from having a trader on the floor but the regular joe schmo prop guys wont notice a difference.