The 1976 yearbook has some "beautiful" stories about young Russell and his motives. We know how the WTBTS loves to polish and whitewash their organisational history, but I truly believe that in his first years, Russell was the most sincere and tolerant of all WT leaders (he was not the 1st president, as a side note). I believe that his obsession with bible-chronology (as part of finkelstein's 2nd point) was the spark and motivation that started the movement, not an evil masterplan to start a sect and gain control over people's minds and money. I think he really believed his own BS and might have even been surprised by his "succes". We know he got more doubts as 1914 came closer, but being seen as Jehovah's mouthpiece by his followers, he already had reached a point of no return. He invested money, and by writing a publishing, he was getting it back. This cumulating process sucked everybody in the loop of becoming business based religion.
The Russell that died was a completely different man as the Russell who started a bible study-group of 6 people. He became his own victim. We know he died a broken and disillusioned man but still the Watchtower 1919, oct. 1 p. 297 called him "one of God's great reformers and prophets." Sigh... proof that the organisation had no intention at all to come clean. Until the 20's, Rutherford continued to promote several false Russell dates. Therefore, I would nėver contribute any sincerity to Rutherford but young Russell at least gets some credit from me.