Slimfatboy,
Technically it does 'underpin' everything Jehovah's Witnesses believe about authority among Witnesses and all that.
Correct.
I understand the mechanics of that. But I just don't buy it either. Jehovah's Witnesses believe that they have the truth because they believe that they teach the truth (duh). They believe that Jesus picked them because they had the most things right in 1919, or 1918, or whenever. But at the end of the day, when Jehovah's Witnesses eventually drop the 1914 thing, they will still insist that they are God's chosen people because they teach true doctrines. That is why both Jehovah's Witnesses and apostates are wrong to focus on this date. Better to just get straight to the beliefs and evaluate them - because that is the true basis for Jehovah's Witnesses sticking with the 'channel'.
There is no doubt about it that the WTS will eventraully drop the 1914 / 607 BCE teaching. I am sure that plans are underway for this to take place. A few years ago I spoke with a member of the GB about this very issue. He acknowledged that it had problems but indicated that in the big-picture it was not important as Christ gave us the 'signs', not an exact date and that the 'signs' have the final word on the matter.
You however, miss a very important point here. Each time that the WTS reverses or fiddles with its major doctrines it loses tens of thousands of worshippers. Many on this board who were once zealous Jehovah's Witnesses exited the corporation exactly because examination of the 1914CE / 607BCE issue. Numerous others because of the WTS change in its interpretation of the 'geneo'.
Growth within the WTS is slowing, more and more people are becoming enlightened regarding the major flaws in their doctrines that you describe as boring and leaving the WTS due to questions like the one posed by Cordelia being answered.
Who are you Slimfatboy? I have a feeling that you have been on this board before under a different handle.
HS