I agree with many of the comments above.
I became a witness in 1973, at age 22. The local congregation was a small, friendly, close-knit group. We had a lot fun at dinner parties, congregation picnics, restaurants after assemblies; it really felt like being part of a family. People were much more engaged with discussions of doctrines, scriptures, how to explain things etc.
This may still be true in some of the smaller congregations, I wouldn't know. But from what I've seen and read, that's all gone away. I think that started with the 1975 failure, but a number of structural changes added to the problem. The GB seem to be intent on regulating every single aspect of the members' lives. They also seem to oppose anything that might be fun. The book study (which was a nice chance to meet in smaller group) is gone. So are the picnics etc. The only new thought I can recall seeing in a Watchtower in years was the generation thing, which has to look silly even to the most die hard Witness. So all they are left with is the treadmill.