No he has not, and the simple proof of that is that the membership/ participation numbers in scientology have been on a steady decline every since Miscavige took over.
For a little while after L Ron died, the "dedicated" members carried on with firm resolve because of their loyalty to the old man, so the membership numbers did not fall, might even have risen a bit.
But after awhile, scientology ceased to deliver the "needed and wanted" that AJ so aptly describes in the OP, and numbers began to fall. Numbers went into a sharp slide to the current level when the real story about scientology was experienced by those inside, who wouldn't take it any more and left, and when it was exposed to the broader public, who now can't be misled into joining.
L Ron was a masterful confidence man who convinced his "marks" that giving to his "enterprise" their all -- their money, their lives, and the lives of their children -- was just the very, very best idea that YOU (the mark) ever had! welcome aboard!
He was assisted in this endeavor by the limits of communication media of his time; advent of the freedom of communication via internet helped dissemble his game.
Judging by his behavior, I say that Miscavige doesn't understand L Ron's game at all. He MIGHT be more interested in the power and prestige than in developing his so-called "spirituality" through training and auditing, or he MIGHT be stupid enough to be a "true believer" in the efficacy of scientology "tech" and "the cause" and his personal responsibility to protect and preserve it -- it's hard to tell from the little we know about him. But he CERTAINLY does not understand how L Ron managed to pull it off.
Miscavige has none of the "charm" that L Ron used to "hypnotize" his marks (think snake charmer) and get them not only to WILLINGLY follow his agenda but to end with a resounding "thank you Ron for taking from me my life and all my resources!"
Miscavige has ALWAYS used NOTHING BUT threats, force, and intimidation to maintain his position and enforce compliance from others. Without real laws (beyond internal scientology policies and orders) and an army or a true police force with guns and ammo and real jails (thank god!), he won't be able to keep this up much longer and is bound to fail; it's just a matter of time, and it's taking longer than many of us would like.
IMO the real danger of scientology in the future is that it will once again be controlled by someone who really does understand how L Ron worked it, someone who has the same kind of "guru" quality, and who picks up where L Ron left off.
Then once again the possiblity could arise that the "philosophy" will be insidiously permeating our society driven by those fanatic followers who are thoroughly convinced that scientology should be practiced by everyone everywhere "for our own good" and that any critical discussion or ridicule of it should be construed as a "hate crime."
Look out for that day because in a world run by scientology, everyone will have a stat, and yours better be UP or it's off to the gulag with you! "Rehab" will take on a whole different meaning than it has now.
