@lakewhut, karkafta means a head. You mean, קרקפתא דלא מנח תפילין
Also, I believe that the Lakewood Yeshuva actually does outreach, in the sense of setting up Torah centers around America.
As for your main sentiment, I agree. Someone who felt one-upped by the Tefillin campaign came up with a Lomdus to justify not doing it, rather than just saying it’s not for me. This is completely contrary to our general Hashkafa on every other Mitzva and their effect.