I once lived down the street from Brooklyn Bethel and can attest to what you've said about the demanding work schedule. These poor guys, who arrived thinking they were coming to a spiritual paradise were often disillusioned. Two different guys told me that they had wanted to leave early (in those days a stint at Bethel was 4 years during which time they could not marry) but were told by the Overseers that they "had made a vow" which neither said he had done. The Society gave them so little money that if their family and friends back home didn't help support them financially they had to take on outside jobs. Many painted, washed cars, did anything they could on Saturday afternoons to make a few shekles above the $14/months and subway tokens to get to their meeting places. Even in the 1960s, that was a pittance.

Everything they did, and when it was done was at the demand of the Organization. When breakfast was served, what table they were to eat at, what they would be served, and consequences of being late or [GF!] falling asleep during the sometime long lectures by a GB member on the daily text while everyone's breakfast got cold was at the say-so of the Society.

At lunch a whistle blew to stop working. Those working at the factory speed walked to Columbia Heights to be on time for dinner, and rushed through that to take care of any personal business--like standing in line to make a telephone call at one of the 2 (!?) public pay phones they were allowed to use before rushing back to work. Are we having fun yet?

And, when one of the Bethelites crashed a car killing a person, the Watchtower's lawyers said the Society was not responsible since Bethelites are volunteers! The WT lost, of course, and since that time anyone who 'serves' at Bethel must sign a paper stating that they are volunteers so the Organization's wealth will be protected from lawsuits.

Can you imagine a Paradise Earth under the leadership of the WTBTS?