When I was in the organization, I always understood that apostates were those who messed up and got disfellowshipped for selfish and pig-headed reasons (because, hey, the elders are merciful and disfellowshipping is a LAST resort). And then, after committing the crime and unwilling to do the time, these people come up with malicious lies to besmirch the organization in a bid to get "even". They seemed like the ultimate pussies to me because they couldn't handle the consequences of their actions which ultimately led to their own disfellowshipping.
How wrong I was.
Now, I wear the term Apostate like a badge of honor. It means - to me, at least - that someone went against the grain to stand up for what's right. I call myself an apostate casually when talking to still-in Witnesses just to juxtapose the knowledge they have of me as a person with that specific term. I don't fit the crazed, disfellowshipped, morally bankrupt idea they have for what apostates should be like.
At the end of the day, I cannot identify myself FURTHER AWAY from what that disgusting cult stands for. And if "apostate" is the definition of someone who has defected from WT's ugliness, then make that my middle name.