Another question to all of you...Do you think most know but too shocked & afraid to say anything because they have been pointing fingers at other religions...
Yes, I think that is part of it. No doubt most JWs have come across information that is in conflict with Watchtower teachings and history, but they reject it because of cognitive dissonance. To accept this information they would have to admit that they were wrong, that everything they believe is a lie, that they have themselves been teaching a lie. That is a bitter pill to swallow, it's easier to believe the information must be wrong.
It's normal human behavior, we have to protect our fragile egos. For example, if a detective investigating a crime becomes convinced someone is guilty they have proven that in the majority of cases they will focus in on evidence that proves guilt and ignore evidence that would indicate the person was innocent or that someone else did the crime. This is how innocent people end up in the gas chamber. Even when so much exculpatory vidence is found the person is set free, the detective will often refuse to admit they made a mistake.
It may be that the person who ignores evidence the Watchtower is wrong will eventually start to consider it, but it usually takes some kind of trauma, like being disfellowshipped or a personal trauma. Or they come acriss too many things that are too convincing to ignore. At that point all their suppressed doubts come back and they are able to break free mentally.
I don't think most JWs will ever get to that point unless something major happens to the religion itself.