Witnesses back then seemed to have been made of better stuff. They seemed smarter, bolder, stronger, more knowledgeable. The information seemed more scholarly and more intellectual, not so dumbed down as it seems to be now.
That, I think, was very true. The JWs used to pride themselves in having no difficulties with explaining what they believed to be "The Truth" about the bible ( even if , in reality, that "Truth" was nothing other than the Watchtower's own brand of theology!) There was, too, always a certain feeling of disdain for the "Churches of Christendom", whose members never seemed to have much idea what it was they actually believed - and cared even less.
when 75 ended something kind of died and it was never the same.
I agree. After the tremendous build up there was in the years leading up to 1975, something simply had to give when nothing in fact eventuated. To expect otherwise is rather like throwing a lighted match at a pool of petrol (gasoline) and then expecting it not to explode!
Bill.