If subscriptions really are due to end in the U.S., I can see
certain advantages for the Society:
1) they're having trouble getting more slave labor for Bethel
service these days. You don't have to pioneer and you only
need to be baptized for six months. Dumping subscriptions
saves manpower.
2) Dumping subs saves a lot of money (the biggest motivation)
3) Delivering magazines creates "busy work" for publishers
who have little else to do, filling hours in field service.
It also pumps up statistics for return visits and magazine
placements.
On the other hand,
1) it may cause a large decrease in the number of issues
distributed. Many people don't want to be bothered every
week - and most won't be found at home to accept delivery
anymore than any typical door to door effort.
2) the "ministry" may become even more unproductive as deliveries
go mostly to old, lonely people who don't wish to convert -
but do want someone to visit them.
3) Such deliveries may put the Society into a position where
they are losing the spread of their message without giving
them any freedom to express their intolerance outside of
public view. If they lie or make stupid remarks about women
gays, and the rest of the human race, it will still get them
in trouble - thanks to the internet!
It's a stop gap at best - and more likely than not, is a symptom
of the Watchtower's continuing death spiral - they cut and decline,
so they must cut more - and decline, so.....
metatron