Shortly after the 2008 crash, a very trustworthy old J.W. friend told me that he'd had a conversation with one of the Greenlees dynasty in Scotland. (most prominent J.W. family in Scotland years ago) My friend informed me that Brother Greenlees told him that a senior U.K. Branch Committee member had said that the org had serious money problems - but that he was certain it would be sorted.
Hence my belief that the org's money-grab is the result of need - not greed!
I'm of the opinion that the org had to implement all of their draconian measures in order to stave off being made bankrupt by some serious Wall Street creditors.
Maybe wishful thinking on my part, but killing the goose that lays the golden eggs doesn't add up.