Another possibility is that the 1975 debacle might in future teachings be linked to the great apostasy of 1980 in which Ray Franz was disfellowshipped. They'll probably hang all the blame for 1975 on him, especially now that he's not around to deny it.
I read somewhere that the temporary letting up of hostility to disfellowshipped ones published in a 70's Watchtower was only there because Ray had written the article.