@SBF-I am going to disagree with your statement that WT has replaced publishing with nothing. They are now a broadcast and digital format business. They are still serving the same “food”, just on a different plate.
I think Sparrowdown nailed it: they are merely in the process of changing their business model and have opted for a long slow roll out of JW 2.0 optimized.
I can assume the long slow roll out of changes was done so as not to have an uprising among the older ones who have been faithfully plodding along and supporting WT all these years, “waiting on Jehovah” for the end they thought would come decades ago. No, the WT cannot piss off those oldies because if the over 70 crowd left there would be a mass exodus of multigenerational JW families and many others—and that would truly cause the end of JWs as a religion. Financially, though, I believe WT Corp and friends will be just fine—their money just wont come from JW zealots/believers.
JeffT—I believe you are absolutely correct. JW leaders are out of new ideas and much of the old content has become problematic. I don’t for one minute think less content will mean less control and manipulation by leaders. In fact, I would expect to see more BITE model tactics employed from headquarters and on the local level. While the flock has been distracted by new songs, new online features, JWTV, iPads, carts, etc., the WT has quickly and quietly stripped the local congregations and BOEs of any shred of autonomy. An observant minority may have noticed, but the majority of believers have been too dazzled by chasing the “chariot” to notice or care. That’s what to watch....(I believe)