A Watchtower attorney by the name of Calvin Rouse ( in the Menlo Park case , where the Society were attempting to establish their ownership of a Kingdom Hall ) told a judge: “We are a hierarchical religion just like the Catholic Church.”
The idea that they "aren't paid so we are different" always sounded to me a bit weak even when I was an active JW and I would have struggled to defend it if questioned. The GB are always dressed well and (it would seem) have more than sufficient disposable income if required ( for whisky purchases , for example!) But also - if all your food , accommodation , travel costs , vehicle , laundry , cleaning , vacation costs , healthcare - indeed , every expense is paid for and every service is provided free of charge - what difference in practice does that make from being paid by an organisation? The distinction seems a bit spurious , to me. Indeed - in many ways , it is better than being paid.