M.J.:
Thanks for the references. They make it very clear that the Society has maneuvered the GB as being a group within a group, representing the FDS, all who are the 144,000. Of course, that includes individuals who lived in the first century. This will come back to bite them. Not just their manipulation of the facts about an "early governing body", but the fact that, in years to come, the number of 144,000 will increase or at least not diminish. That will force them to change their explanations. Hopefully and because of improved access to information via technology, it will be less difficult to hide.
The thing I get from their descriptions you cited is that if the GB represents the FDS, how do the members of the FDS who are not of the GB fulfill their role as "providing spiritual nourishment at the proper time"? The example I gave in my original post to illustrate those "anointed" who are marginal to the operation of the Society begs the question of how many of this class actually fulfill their role. As far as I can see, they do nothing, except those in the GB. I would hope that most Witnesses could see that as well, simply by thinking about it.
Realistically though, the fact that I thought about this issue when I was still a practicing Witness and managed to shove it aside should be indicative of what it is that they do that allowed me to gloss over it. I just can't put my finger on it.
Etude.