Riveting! I envy you and yours for getting out after a few years instead of a half-century like some of us. There is actually some value in learning to survive in a remote setting where "the need is great" for a year or two. It is almost like being a Mormon missionary at least in time served. The trap comes when "privileges of service", the dangling carrots of JWdom become your god.
People like your friend, Frank, are actually enablers, because they are so normal. They see through the mind games, but still serve the JW god. Of course, they have rationalized things with the old Watchtower platitudes and a few of their own.
The best part of your story is sparing your son the JW life.
tms