I was young when my mom studied, became a witness. My husband started studying when he was 12 or 13, & after high school he became a JW.
Both of us had seen sooooooooooo many things happen, over soooooo many years.
It's like you are living in fairy tale land. "Everything will be ok, wave the wand, wait on Jehovah, don't push ahead."
We were always told it was our fault. (Oh, so that's why you lied to us?)
We did not have the resources (old books, internet) to discover the lies being told. Both of us are studiers, researchers, want the "truth", want to "get to the bottom of it all." Didn't have the means.. especially b4 the internet. WT also keeps you too busy. The merry-go-round of: Service, regular meetings, elders meetings, RBC, etc., etc., etc..
My husband's viewpoint: "It always had to be 'me.' "I wasn't studying enough," etc.... When something happened that was obviously wrong, a very faint voice from a distant part of my brain said..... "What if something is wrong with them?" All I did was study WT publications ONLY. It was enough to help me lose a lot of fear based phobias."
My viewpoint: My story is... that I am not sure how long I would have lasted without my husband. After a run in with a brother who wronged us, and post traumatic stress when trying to go in service (we had to turn around and go home as my fear increased as we approached the meeting for service, then... after 6 months? I could go up to a door, start trembling, go home... then... go for a while... etc, etc, etc.. they gave talks at assemblies, I had to leave the area.. ) I think I may have left then... or soon after. Christians should not lie, steal, etc. The brothers that tried to "help us" sort thru it were all liars... caught in their own lies, just stared back at us when I said "Hey! you are lying!"
I couldn't take the "forgive and forget" when no one was willing to admit.
Leaving for me? I wanted to make sure my kids got out. My husband, me and my kids. If I got them out, I'd make it. I have other fam' that's in, others that are not.
I actually thought people could think. When I discovered things, and shared, asked questions, I could not believe how many of my "friends" could not, would not, think. Not even give me a chance. Not even look at the scriptures I presented. Not look at the "history" of JWs... I found my "friends" were not my true "friends." So be it. Who needs friends like that? It is hard to start rebuilding resources at this age, but not impossible. Other people need friends too.
So to sum up your question: We think it doesn't matter if you are born in, or a convert.
Me: I think it depends on each individual, their character, and experience.
Him: When obviously bad things happen, combined with researched facts that contradict printed statements in the WT, anything is possible.