Yes, "massaging" the numbers goes on, and it always did, so a comparison of two sets of fiddled numbers would still be revealing.
But I learned only yesterday that both the Congregations I mentioned have had an influx, but it is strange, unless you know the Congregations well, the "new" members are all J.W''s from elsewhere, many who had moved away years ago, and moved back, especially once they had retired. One Elder was disfellowshipped a couple of decades ago for adultery with his now wife, he has two kids now too. Another "dodgy" couple have joined, he was never baptised, but got a young sister to live with him for a few years. He is now married to someone else.
So, if I did get the figures, and they matched or even slightly exceeded those of two or so decades ago, it would really show a situation in real terms of " no growth".
I think it is evident that no Real growth comes from the public in the western World at least, only from children growing up in it.