Like you, jwfacts, i had several encounters over the years growing up as jw with "apostates".
One, when i was about 17, really stands out. I wad in "field service" with a very dear old "sister", she would have been in her late 80's at the time, although able to walk well (if slowly) and still sharp of mind. We knocked on a door and the youngish man (mid 30's) who answered proceded to launch into a rant about how it was all all a lie and how she (the older "sister") was still a slave (she was black) etc etc... The older "sister" i suppose had heard it all before and was very calm in stark contrast to the man at the door. That delayed my exit by many years, frankly.
When i was at bethel there were always "apostates" (mr coffee among them) ranting near headquarters. Never gave them a second look. It was obvious that we had the truth since we were important enough to protest!
Over the years at various district conventions there were protests, usually small, anywhere from one or two up to maybe 10 people. Signs and chants etc etc... for the record these protests were in Richmond VA and reading PA. Totally useless. Even when i was an MS/elder and working as an attendant assigned to watch them it never phased me.
What ultimately did have a huge impact was a young man who was of another christain denomination that a fellow witness wanted me to study with. I wasnt particularly interested, even at that point, in studying with people. I was an elder and had a full plate with a wofe and 2 kids. A study was extra work that i didnt need or want. However i agreeded to meet the young man (he was in his early 20's and i my late 30's at that time). Upon further review he was simply reverse witnessing and i quickely saw that, but he was very nice and willing to have reasonable 'personal' discussions, not just repeating his mantras after i repeated wt mantras. It was real exchange of ideas. It gave me room to think... it also lead me to google search and to show up here on this web site.
It was discussions here and reading information on the JWfacts website that eventually let me get free. As i began to explore the doubts that i had always had after seeing things at bethel and as an elder i saw fairly quickly that the truth was anything but. Realizing and accepting are two different things, and being able to finally act took much longer, but that was the start.
the "militant" tactics were less than useless. They kept le around longer than i otherwise may have, but if it made some angry "apostate" feel better than i hope it helped them. In the end i cannot say enough about calm and friendly discussions that allow for free thought and the anonymity that the internet allows as factors in me being able to grow past watchtowerisum.