The GB are no doubt aware, at least to some extent, of the downsides to stopping counting time. And in ordinary circumstances they may avoid making the decision to stop recording time. Yet they may simply be facing a scenario where it seems to them that the disadvantages of collecting time now outweigh the advantages.
They may be worried that data protection laws will harm them in future if they continue to collect this information. Plus they obviously realise that trends indicate they are entering a period of decline, and they see no advantage to continuing to collect and publish this data in these circumstances.
Plus there is a more basic point, that the Watchtower has often justified reporting time and placements on the basis that this information allows the organisation to plan their publishing activity efficiently. (I don’t have a specific reference for this, but I’m sure I’ve read and heard this justification multiple times) As they move away from print media altogether they may simply be facing up to the logic of their traditional rationale for reporting preaching and concluding that it is no longer necessary.
Having said all this, I think this change has the potential to have a huge impact on the organisation far beyond what the GB may anticipate. It could deflate morale and accelerate the ongoing collapse of the organisation.
