When I was a JW, I was always filled with anticipation at hearing a Governing Body member give a talk. And each and every time this happened, I was either underwhelmed or felt outright discouraged.
I've seen Henschel at a district assembly. I've seen Herd (as a district overseer and after his appointment to the Governing Body, at a circuit assembly). I've seen Splane at a circuit assembly. And lastly Pierce about three years before his death (he gave the Memorial talk).Nowadays, the Governing Body are front and center, whereas before, it was a rare and "privileged" thing. They could maintain their mystery and awe over their anointed status. Also, before, they were not the entire "Faithful Slave", but rather the thousands of "anointed" were mystically connected into this "class".