" Once inside, you need to follow a host of rules to maintain your membership." True, and as pointed out above, one important Rule to follow is to preach, every month and to report that time.
If you do not, they do not "count" you as a J.W., but if you break almost any other one of their myriad Rules, all of a sudden, you are a J.W., even though not being counted as one, so that they can Disfellowship you.
Again, the Org wants it both ways, you are not a JW when they say so, and yet you are a few minutes later if they say so !