Good comment SBF,
I came to the belief some time ago that many, if not most, of the doctrinal changes post JFR were based on legal maneuvering around two issues:
1) the US draft. Getting the brothers the Minister classification was front and center. Creation of the Ministry School, invention of "pioneer', 'Qualified to be ministers', all this stuff was invented to present to the courts that JW men were 'ministers'.
2) missionary status for JWs being sent overseas , which Knorr started post WW2. Hence the Gilead school which purported to be missionary training.
The 'superior authorities' 180 degree turn probably fit into one of these two strategies. 'We're not opposed to governments, we are subject to the laws of the country our missionaries are sent into' etc. It was all legal maneuvering
my two cents