SJS: Sorry for getting you excited. I’m actually a realist, and my realization that Frum Jews live a more spiritually elevated lives than Non Jews, derives from an inner perception of my psyche, and from my natural/unbiased analysis of the psyche of the fellow Non Jews that surround me. Since you have difficulty in coming to the same realization as me, I postulate that this may be because you are lacking somewhat in your own emotional feelings of spiritual elevation/fulfillment. (This may be because of hashkafic/behavioral influences from Some MO circles which you identify with).
You must however agree with me, that Motivation for Frum Judaism is not generated solely from Faith. There has to be some real feelings/truth that Frum Jews feel/identify with, which is the cause for them to be deeply committed to their lifestyle despite the worldly influences.
And as far as our Faith is concerned, no logical person will say we need Proof of the Authentic of Judaism. If it cannot be Proven that there is definitely No God and/or that Torah was Definitely Not given on Har Sinai, then we all might as well stay with the Torah out of the fear/concern that Maybe it is all true/authentic. Especially since we all feel internally the physiological truth as an effect of our belief in the Torah.
And as far as OTD is concerned, I respectfully, disagree with you. OTD is hardly caused from intellectual reasons. OTD is almost always behavioral. Usually from the need to rebel on authority which the individual associates with the religion of his upbringing. And the forces of rebellion to secure their ego, overrides the inner desire within themselves to fulfill their natural desire for spiritual satisfaction.
Lastly, the issue being discussed on this thread is actually not OTD, but rather Motivation loss of Frum Jewish boys who do externally stay within the fold. And this phenomenon is usually caused by spiritual pitfalls experienced by the boys, which in turn caused them to become discouraged from their desire to fulfill their spiritual satisfaction needs; although they definitely still feel that there is something they are Missing; to the contrary, (that’s why they are depressed until they give up and adjust themselves to their failure