As I was already familiar with the contrast between Mexico and Malawi, it wasn't a surprise or a shock.
In that example, during a period when it was acceptable for a Mexican JW to pay for a card that gave excused them military service (essentially a bribe), it was not acceptable for a Malawian JW to pay for a card which gave them access to food and supplies (a 'party card' of limited meaning in an effective one-party state, more of an ID card).
Mexican JW's could pay money and sort out a 'problem' with their stance on neutrality in an afternoon.
Malawian JW's could not pay money and sort out a 'problem' with their stance on neutrality, and had to suffer beatings, deprivation, imprisonment, torture, rape and murder as a result.
Thus finding out that JW's as an organisation had held a card which allowed access to the facilities (like a library) of a body they condemned and counselled must be avoided at all costs, whilst simultaneously dis-fellowshipping any Witness who held a card to access facilities (like a gym) of a body they condemned and counselled must be avoided at all costs - the example in this case being the YMCA - was not a shock.
It was a further example of rules that resulted in disadvantage or suffering whilst the very same principles used to make those rules were ignored elsewhere. More saddening than a shock I suppose... until you realise that people suffered and even died because of the inconsistant and convenient application of "principles". Then it makes you angry.
Such institutionalised hypocrisy is surely familiar to anyone who has read Jesus' anger toward the hypocritical attitudes of the Pharisees in the 1st Century.