From my few dealings with JWs some years back, what struck me as ingenious in the GB’s strategy was precisely how they hid themselves in the shadows, because that directly helped to support the illusion of their word (in magazines etc.) being the word of Jehovah. It blinded the congregation from seeing that they’re ”worshipping” (i.e. putting their effort to) not a god, but just an organization led by this bunch of elderly guys in the American headquarters. It’s interesting to hear that the GB have apparently now abandoned this strategy for whatever reason. I agree with you that this is a good thing; they exposing themselves like this should help to open the eyes of more Witnesses to the very worldly ways the organization actually works.