to which the JW told him that he could download the WTs from the web, including the study edition!! First time I've heard this.
Nope, that's not the case. (But maybe this JW was too brainwashed to know!)
You can download a few "selected" articles, which of course, have been pre-approved for public distribution.
But you're not going to gain access to the entire collection of "helpful teachings", because apparently, there are aspects of "the truth" that ought to be hidden until later in the indoctrination process.