I think they've been slowly laying the groundwork for changing this doctrine for the past few years. They've made it quite clear in the WT study articles over the last couple of years that none of the 'annointed', outside of the Slobbering Body members, have any special "insight" into anything, and even made the comment a few years ago that they have no more 'Holy Spirit' than the R&F. This is obviously being done for two reasons: 1) So no 'annointed' person can ask any uncomfortable doctrinal questions and 2)To elevate the goons at the top even further.
I'm guessing that the next step will be to announce that only the Governing Body members themselves comprise the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" and that it does not apply to any others professing to have the 'heavenly hope' (if they haven't done this already). This will probably be somewhat shocking to alot of JWs, but they'll just carry on business as per usual. Once this has been accepted, it won't matter one bit to the GB if they make the '144,000' a "symbolic number" since they will effectively have reduced any sort of power or 'special insight', to that of the R&F with the 'earthy hope'. After that, you'll probably see the number of partakers skyrocket.
I did an interesting thread about the 144,000 a few years ago whereby they try claiming that the "Israel of God" is referring to mankind in general. My jaw dropped when I read this, so if you're interested, here's the link: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/watchtower/bible/164387/1/HERES-A-BOMBSHELL-ABOUT-THE-144-000-DOCTRINE
