HI Bendrr: You have an interesting point. It seems that the WTS has been taking these 'half' steps for a long time. It is hard to say what they will do next. They have certainly run out the clock on every one of their speculations and prophecies. They may try again to come up with some new thing to capture the interest of JWs.
Back in the 1960s it was 'hippies' and the anticipation of Armageddon by 1975. Then in the 1970s it was social ills. The 1980s they seem to turn more on materialism and some focus on teen issues. But, by the 1990s they have developed a seige mentality against those they label 'apostates' and with the Internet this seems to be their mainstay of battle.
There is a chance that they will shy away from anymore prophetic issues given how this has proved to hurt them. They may even take a shot at some kind of reform, in hopes of getting back many lost members. But, it will be too little, too late. I personally expect that by 2010 to 2020 they will have shrunk to a very small group of old diehards ... and by 2030, the WTS mat go out of business.
I could be wrong, and if so, I will be on the Internet eating my own words if someone repost my statements. - Amazing