Welcome to the forum, Cognac. You are among people here who understand.
Others will have better advice than I do about 'what to do next', because I was a JW for a long time before being incorrectly DF'd, then learned that the JW's weren't true, then decided not to go back. (Hopefully my being DF'd won't scare you off, I'm not against individual JW's, but rather want people to find what makes sense to them and follow it.)
You are so right about the blood issue -- that the higher principle should be sanctity of life, and not about the mystical symbolism of blood.
There are so many teachings that the JW's have that are more about control (such as DF'ing people for non-vital matters, or just for having a different viewpoint than what the organization currently teaches).
About your anointed friend: He is a wonderful brother and said that there would be things that I may question my entire life and not get the answer to.
If those "things" he's talking about relate to organizational teachings that JW's have, then it seems like blind loyalty is what's expected of JW's. And blind loyalty is what leads to superstition and unreasonableness.
Keep reading -- the more good information you get the better. And please do continue to come here for support, because as you know, it'd be dangerous to bring these questions back into your congregation.