rocketman, your use of the word "dupe" is very appropriate. Hayakawa says "To dupe is to take advantage of a victim's naivete or credulousness in deceiving him about the reality, truth, or value of something..."
So, to be duped by the WTS requires more than simple gullibility of the average JW (read "most people"?); it requires a deliberately deceptive intent on the part of the WTS, phrasing their dogma and imposing their policies in such a way as to take advantage of the inability/disinterest of most people to see through the trickery.
Also, from another source: "the Old French dupe meant a hoopoe; whence dupe, a dupe, because the bird was easily caught." Reminds me of the scripture:
Amos 3:5 Does a bird ever get caught in a trap that has no bait? Does a trap ever spring shut when there’s nothing there to catch? (NLT)
Craig