Hi Nimbius,
Actually, your ham license does not grant you "rights to the airwaves". It grants you the right to operate within a shared resource which is held for the public interest.
One problem with allowing encryption is that it would allow you to usurp that shared resource for a private communication to which nobody but your in-group is admitted. How would you like it if you were locked off of the air by other folks doing it?
Good luck with your upgrade. It might be a good time to read Part 97, especially the justification for the Amateur service right at the start.
Thanks
Bruce Perens K6BP (Extra Class license, back when there was a 20 WPM code test, thank goodness you won't have to take one)