This means that Jehovah's Witnesses have an over 96% failure rate with people who want to study the bible with them.
It is quite remarkable, and obviously that's got worse over the past few decades, as the total number of hours needed to bring a study to baptism has soared.
IMO, that's because the way of teaching - and the publications used - have become more and more dumbed down and detached from reality.
I first became a JW during the days of the red "Live Forever" book (followed by the blue "United In Worship" book, for those who 'progressed'). Prior to that it had been "The Truth That Leads To Eternal Life".
These were both substantial books, and the meeting and WT study content back then was deeper stuff too.
However, the most recent study publications are so lightweight - and the meetings too - that it's hard to see that any of the "reasoning" used in lessons today can really build a faith in people.
True, many of us here would now say the "deep things" they taught before were false (and they've further crippled themselves by abandoning a lot of their own teachings en masse), but it was at least, by the standards of the time, more convincing than stuff like "overlapping generations" or messages like "we are not inspired by God, but trust us even if you don't understand what we ask you to do"!
Also, the Org has become so scared of its own shadow, that it no longer has the backbone it used to, in standing up for what it supposedly believes. That shows in two ways: even more regular flip-flopping or ditching of previously important doctrines - or even not seeming to know their own previous teachings - and a lack of real courage in defending its' supposed principles. These days, the Org fights court cases, not over principles like free speech and the right to preach, but over issues like whether to compensate victims of harassment or abuse. None of those things are likely to attract new members as indicators of a morally upright or courageous organisation.
The reasons why they don't seem to care? The new GB is no longer concerned about increasing numbers in the congregations as their number 1 (or even 2) goal, as the old ones used to be. Their priority seems to be purely financial survival now. So of course, they don't mind if there's no huge influx, because any significant increase would put more demand on for Halls, assemblies and for help for the R&F in poorer lands, at a time when they are trying to shed costs, but hold onto their core membership that is still "loyal". You don't even hear them boasting much about "growth" like they used to either, not just because it's slowed down, but because that's no longer their major motivation at the top.
As long as they give the R&F the impression of activity (what used to be called "busy work"), they've actually removed a lot of what drove or motivated the ministry in the past: hourly requirements (unless pioneering); most print publications and number of monthly magazines; quality and depth of the schools and ways of teaching ministry; the concept that this was truly "life-saving" work with an imminent deadline; the idea of "bloodguilt" on the part of JWs if they don't preach (you never hear that one brought out now) - all gone or significantly reduced.
Those who compared the Org to a MLM or major business are right in this regard: when a company is "young", its priority is sales and growth, but as it matures and begins to fall back in the market, its priority becomes cost-cutting and pure survival (especially for the shareholders). This includes cutting outlets or branches (kingdom halls), reducing product lines (less literature), laying off staff (not that JW "fires" people or has increased disfellowshipping, but it's certainly consolidating falling numbers into fewer congregations and disbanding many foreign language groups, has ditched DOs, shed Bethelites for a while, and is reducing COs) and, if the directors have been involved in shady business practice, it also has to start facing lawsuits and paying out costs, all of which drive it to find more money. As a result, the "product" that's left on the shelves for potential "customers" looks less and less attractive.
That's about where the Org seems to be now.
