no-zombie - “…we can be sure that the Governing Body isn't making these changes to somehow lighten our load.”
Agreed.
The way I see it, any appearance of mainstreaming/conscientious reform can only be just that…
…appearance.
Why?
Because one of the most integral aspects of mainstream religion is (either explicitly or implicitly) abandoning the claim of being the only path to salvation, or being the only group with divine favor.
And after nearly a century of insisting that they’re “God’s Exclusive Earthly Organization”, that is simply unthinkable for the Watchtower.
To do that after all this time, everything they’ve said and done to reinforce that premise will have been for nothing.
They’d be eliminating any remaining incentive to even BE a Jehovah’s Witness.