Well I think if you are considering that road, then first you have to define what is core that makes Feri what it is.
What specific things if you removed them would remove the essence that makes Feri a tradition.
If there is such a thing, then you would be where those Gard lines are.
There are certain specific practices that are so key to the core of Gardnerian that once removed, it is no longer Gardnerian. It may or may not be perfectly fine witchcraft, but it is not Gardnerian. And those who pass the altered practice and call it Gard are not legit, because they are misrepresenting what they do.
I have gone there and back again on the protecting the trad urges.
I have to agree with you, in the end, I think those who mislead are in a way doing us a favor.
If someone is mislead, they probably did not belong among us to begin with.