What BC obtusely avoids is it really does not matter if it was doctrinal, which can be argued.
It does matter because it is doctrine that the Church teaches. Otherwise, it is just individual councli which may or may not be true or apply to you.
It was what is practiced
What the Church practices and teaches may be entirely different from what some indiviudal practices and teaches.
and what did the member think
Sure. There are indeed some who might not make the distinction and even a few crackpots who refuse to make the distinction even when pointed out to them.
Apologists like BC think that what they say means more then what the leaders say.
Apologists like BC are keenly interested in following what the leaders say. See the link in my siggy for example. That is the Church's official statement on how the leaders distinguish between what is and is not doctrine. It's what's been taught within the Church for decades.
The struggle to death thing was said by Kimball and other GAs as was the better dead than lose virture, over and over and the latter in GC which by BCs standards makes it doctrine.
Why don't you actually elucidate my standards by giving reference? When you do, you'll see that this is not the case.
Members believed it, used it and taught these things over and over.
I'm quite certain some did. But that is not the standard for doctrine.
If BC says they did not he is frankly being dishonest.
I think you'll find and most will agree that BC is honest.
This was the theme in the 60s and 70s when I grew up
You and I are probably close in age.
and seems alive and well in some quarters.
Evidence that it was not doctrine.