The GB are factioned. Trade-offs happen.....
Loyalty to old-timers isn't what it was back during the early 80's. The WTS is much more a corporation now.
I have no insider information regarding the book but I do pay attention and the fact that it has such a hard stance on DFd means it's days are limited. Treatment of DFd is a big flip flopping topic. So to have it in a book that is a closer on recruitment is risky in this day and age. Why else would they suggest the Appendix was optional? In the Teach book we use the provision of the Appendix often.
As more and more are DFd under this clampdown more and more will grow weary of this hardline and I think Losch and Co. know it.
Keep is the high point of Ted's reign. It is almost as if they gave him enough rope to hang himself. Then they can point to the dwindling numbers and rising number of DFings and declare a change is needed, thus securing enough votes based on WTS greed and survivablity.
Schedule - -- This was the first time ever they refused to release a full study schedule. Why on earth would they not release the full schedule as they have for all other books in the past? Some are musing that Ted's health is continuing to decline (heart problems) or that the GB will be cutting those 25 minutes from the CBS. Either way it is strange and suspect because the boys in bethel always have motivation.
I did hear originally that after LWJDIM the Come By My Follower book was set to be studied and then it was switched to the "Keep in Ted's Laws".
