How about you - have you had the same experience?
No, but because of my background I was welcomed into the inner circle when I re-introduced my self into the JW culture in the 90's.
The elders I came to know and still respect were old timers who thought perhaps they were losing "Jah's spirit".
The Society gave them an oldie that was a realist to answer the letter the body of elders sent to the Society wondering if they had become Spiritually ill. He wasn't a fan of the WTBTS ruling class interesting enough. He assured the elders they hadn't been infiltrated by apostates...but he was so much more. ;-)
For a while the only reason I attended meetings was to visit with him before and after meetings to listen to his "Bethel isn't what you think it is" storys.
It was the first time I began to realize that my old friend Randy W wasn't the demon our old friends painted him to be.