Fat Freak has similar memories to mine. The Truth Book was supposed to be a chapter a week, six month study and if not at meetings by then.....cut them loose. In the Western world however most publishers never did that.
There was one Circuit Overseers wife who was notorious for ending the studies she was invited on, nobody wanted to take her
Since studies have always been like gold dust , why would you stop a good thing. Far better to be indoors chatting on the sofa with a cup of tea than out on the cold doorsteps.