Merry, you seem to have missed the point of what I was saying.
You left the organisation, good on you. I did too, good on me.
If those elders were so concerned about their families, they would be less worried about the effects of being disfellowshiped and more worried about the consequences of them being poor role models to their childen (and the rest of the congregation). They would also be more worried about continuing to keep their families in a religion that is obviously so stifling.
I do not agree with your 'can't do' stance.