Frankie,
As someone in another country how do you see the GB's influence waining?? Do you see sign of it where you live??
As I have been out of the WT for almost 20 years now, I don't "see" much of it. My impression from indirect contacts is that more and more R&F, especially 2nd- or 3rd-generation JWs make their own "liberal" brand of JWism (e.g. finding an indirect way of celebrating birthdays without calling them "birthdays," planning higher education for their children, etc.). However, those who are part of the hierarchy have no much liberty.