So it's more merciful to just wish someone well when they walk away from the sacraments?
How many disciples walked away from Christ after the scandal of being crucified? Those who hung in there and rolled with the worst civic punishments and persecution imaginable received glory in heaven. Dreher, as a journalist, has access to some of the greatest minds in the Church. He is not leaving for lack of exposure to the teachings of the Church - and therein lies the danger to his soul. Is that prejudice? No. The Church has stated clearly that salvation comes only through the Catholic Church, and "to whom much is given, much is expected". That doesn't mean non-Catholics can't be saved, but for those of us who ARE Catholic, leaving - with full understanding of Church doctrine - is spiritual suicide.
The point is, no one wants Dreher to make this terrible mistake. In the end, it's up to him, but scandal is not exactly something new (Judas, anyone?), and the Church has proven itself everything Jesus promised it would be.
I am not a strict Feenyite, and also the churches of the East have VALID sacraments. Is it a perfect communion, no. But based on what Rod Dreher has been though, I blame the instituional church far more than Dreher himself on why he is leaving.