Very courageous of you, Julia. It's interesting how they ALWAYS trot out the "Do you believe the Governing Body is the FDS?" in every congregation around the earth when there is a hint of independent thinking, and relentlessly pursue it a hundred different ways to try to get an answer. Very inquisitorial, with no basis in scripture for that kind of questioning.
Way to show them you're no fool, either. It reminds my of when I got DF'd, we had a long exchange that was very similar to yours, except instead of a university or the bank, the elder used the example of the army. It was a better example, to be honest, and a little harder to argue that disagreement was permitted. I told him changes are made in the army because people persist in disagreeing about something unfair, like allowing women into the army, or allowing homosexuals. Also once you leave the army you can still be friends with those who are still in. Anyway, great job on your part, and best of luck going ahead, since surely they won't leave you alone.
If I had it to do over again, I would not meet with a judicial committee and acknowledge their authority. Although I suspect that with the elders as two witnesses to what you said, they might DF you anyway. I think attending the JC did help win my wife over, since she saw that I was just being sincere and honest and they DF'd me anyway. So consider how to expose them to your husband also when you decide how to proceed. Think about demanding that he sit in on the judicial committee if you decide to attend one.