I think there's a level of cognitive dissonance that is present within many that leave over the shunning thing. I hear so many tales of people that leave and think that their family will talk to them. Sure, that does happen, but it's by far the minority. My wife was surprised at her family's reaction to us going to visit my disfellowshipped brother. I told her that it would have consequences, and she didn't think so. It did, immediate and swift consequences of shunning for one visit to my brother at that time.
If you leave, expect to be shunned forever. That's it. If you get anything more than that you're doing good. Yes, their shunning is stupid. Yes, these supposedly loving people are prepared to psychologically torture you to try to manipulate you, and maybe more importantly, to prove to themselves that they can take this ultimate stand for their "truth". It isn't so much about you really, but more about them and their relationship with the cult, but you need to start from the baseline of knowing that you're going to be shunned and it will be for the rest of your life. Honestly, it may be for the best, as those individuals have the stank of the cult all over them, and you can't interact with them without it. They are toxic people, often with tremendously dysfunctional boundaries and beliefs. It is sad. It is often heartbreaking. It is real though, and needs to be accepted when you leave as what will happen.
That doesn't mean that you can't hope for something to happen, maybe someone to awaken and come out with you at some point in the future, but so long as you are on those opposite sides of the fence, expect not to see them. If you're expectations are that these cult members are going to be reasonable, you're often setting yourself up for tremendous disappointment.