Hey Corvin,
I was a little slow on the draw in that regard. It wasn't until I was completely out - having already decided quite clearly that the Witnesses were completely wrong on doctrinal matters (due in no small part to the fact that I discovered I did not believe in the Bible). I started talking to a friend who was having doubts because, as he put it, "I realized that if you are depressed, you need to take steps to correct it, but the Witnesses prevent you from taking those steps."
That was the first time I ever thought about the social / cultural problems in the JWs. Of course, once I began studying psychology and learning what healthy, adult behavior was, I was blown away by how I could not see it before. But yeah, it took me a while. :-)
The thing that blew my mind the hardest was the sheer lack of love. It is a doctrine among the JWs that they are the most loving organization in the world, and I guess I just bought it. It wasn't until I got out and began to realize the depth of love, patience, and maturity that non-JWs showed that I began to see the mammoth difference. Sometimes I would lay awake at night thinking of the ways people had tried to help me to grow, while I was stuck in high-minded elitism, and be profoundly moved by how much love the average non-JW really had.
In the love department, what the Witnesses have is an inch of water compared to oceanic depths in the healthy population.
Amazing. It really is amazing.
SNG
