I'll actually bite this one, and just re-iterate what I've always said.
I don't want to get into the technical definitions of the word cult here, so I'll let that pass. As far as hurting/using/draining it's constituents, I just can't agree with that, based on my own experience. I know way too many genuinely happy Scientologists. And if they're happy, who am I to judge what they believe or choose to do with their life?
:-\ Like I've said before, I believe no such thing. I've never read or been exposed to any material even remotely similar to that. What I get and have gotten out of Scientology has helped me life a better and happier life. It's as simple as that.
Now, granted, obviously I haven't read any of the confidential material yet. But I know that I'm not going to agree with anything I read just because it's Scientology or just because it was written by L. Ron Hubbard. If I read and study something, it has to make sense to me and be true for myself. And that's the bottom line.
And now since I have work in the morning, I must crash. I might post more tomorrow, but it'll be later.