Hi Bleak, to answer your question they choose to see some Biblical verses as literal and some as figurative because it suits them. No pun intended! It helps them produce the teachings that bind people in a cult that is almost impossible to get out of once you've got your entire family mixed up in it.
I would say if you can't stand the idea of being told what to wear you are going to hate being told who you can marry, what you can do in bed, what kind of jobs you can't do, what you must do on your weekends etc, etc.
It makes sense to do your research online after visiting the Kingdom Hall. It seems to me you are far too much of an independent thinker to belong to this cult. Have you looked at JWfacts.com by the way? Some great argumentation on there by Paul Grundy who used to be very involved with the religion. Good luck with your research.