I agree with all the well thought out points above,
I wanted to add 2 things. As to the apparent money crisis (if there is indeed such) once you start selling assets but dont have your volunteer funded cash flow, you would feel like there is a crisis if your smart.
The Org is used to its cash coming from the ranks below NOT selling of property.
As stated in the OP if that is drying up then I suspect they are very nervous, in spite of some high priced real estate they own. Its a way of life that is no more....book and magazine sales are flat. Their website has not lit the world on fire like they hoped. What next? They dont seem to know.
The other thought I wanted to add is that another change is weakening of respect for elders in general. In history, when you dont have respect for the law you get chaos and anarchy. Perhaps they worry more about that within the ranks than they do indifference?
People fading in chronic indifference or fighting back with lawsuits and websites that tell the real truth. Its going to be one or the other - perhaps both.