I read CoC in the mid '80's. I have never read In Search of Christian Freedom. At the time I read the book, I had already been out for about 5 years. It was eye-opening anyway. I hadn't realized the part about Christ not being mediator for the "great crowd." That is so stupid; but if I had stayed with the dubs, I probably would have gone along with it.
Because I was married to an elder, I had already seen some of the underside of the borg. Still, it was enlightening to find out it still worked the same way at the very top.
I am grateful for Ray Franz and his work. I am sure he saved a lot of people from lives of misery.