The problem is if you ate a Pharisee you like turning priciples into laws so that way you maintain control over the ignorant.
Well said.
(although I think you meant "are" and not "ate" : - )
There is also the counsel not to quickly believe allegations against an elder but to depend on the testimony of two or three people.
The JW religion uses a lot of Old Testament accounts applying them as guides. They seem to rely on OT accounts even more so than the Gospels or any NT accounts.
It's hard to see them as Christians instead of OT religionists.