I have to say that I personally did not feel controlled when I was in, not in mind anyway. We were more controlled by the schedule of meetings, talks, field service, assemblies etc, but not the mind control JWs are subject to today. I think that back in the 70s there was a lot more intellectual freedom, and I can remember many a discussion with some of the more independently minded witnesses, where we would often disagree with the official line, and there was never any sanction. In fact, I would say that those (and there were a few) who swallowed 100% of everything that appeared in a book or a Watchtower, were considered odd, even a bit simple.
zeb - you highlight a very good point, I too observed that born-ins always seemed to display the worst behaviours. Their hypocrisy was difficult to defend, especially to non-believing members of my family who were able to witness it first hand.