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I am always amazed at non-Catholics attempts reduce John 6 to a parable.

Thankfully Paul and the other apostles didn't share your view.

1 Cor 10:16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

What do you think Paul is talking about in 1 Cor 11:23-27? If the Eucharist is a mere symbol why the danger of being guilty of “the body and blood of the Lord"?

Also, how many followers left because they couldn’t reconcile the fact that Christ used the imagery of a door or a vine? They understood the use of imagery, which is why they were scandalized by Christ’s statements in John: 6

I can turn around and say the same thing:

I am always amazed at Roman Catholic attempts to reduce John 6 to a literalistic wooden statement.
Thankfully Paul and the other apostles didn't share your view.
1 Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
What do you think Paul is talking about in 1 Cor 12:27 and Eph 4:12? If the "body of Christ" is always supposed to mean the material/physical body that Jesus has, we are guilty of being Pantheists.

"Also, how many followers left because they couldn’t reconcile the fact that Christ used the imagery of a door or a vine? They understood the use of imagery, which is why they were scandalized by Christ’s statements in John: 6"

Your application here is a logical fallacy. Just because some may truly understand the parabolic imagery does not negate the fact that some (the Roman Catholic Church?) will fail to understand it.

Perhaps that is because God intended for them to misunderstand:

Mark 4
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Jean