VERY good post!!!
What always amazed me was how often JWs use the story of King David and the Prodigal Son...as if both were disfellowshipped from 'the flock' and then returned to God (Jehovah). First of all, King David committed a ton of sins (premeditated murder, lust, adultery, produced an illegitimate child, lying) and NEVER ONCE was denied association nor shunned. He was approached 'informally' by a prophet one-on-one and that motivated him to repent. So using that as an example of "one who left the flock but repented and was returned to God's favor" does NOT suffice as one that I find any solice in?! As for the Prodigal Son...nowhere did I EVER read that he was shunned or banned from his family - he made the CHOICE to leave and live his life. And when he returned, there was no LETTER he had to write...he wasn't required to plead with a JC to be 'accepted' back - his family ran out to meet HIM!
So a lot of the stories JWs use to try to motivate shame and repentance out of people are blantant fabrications of the facts! Despite it being written clear as day - leave it to a JW to twist it like a Twizzler.