i was raised SDA so i'll try to provide some comparisons. SDA churches don't do the door-to-door evangelism thing nearly as much as JW churches do; they're much closer to other protestant sects doctrinally (main differences are going to church on Saturday and that they don't believe in hell or that you go to heaven immediately after you die). they kind of have a Joseph Smith equivalent in Ellen G White (who claimed to have visions and wrote a bunch of books) but they don't have the same reverence for her that Mormons do for Smith; a lot of the younger members kind of ignore her entirely. most adventist churches are pretty small and insular; their membership is mostly elderly. a lot of adventists are vegetarian which I respect. my church was a bit larger, less conservative, and less insular than most SDA churches and was pretty diverse. based on my experience in the church i wouldn't classify it as a cult; people aren't really ostracized for leaving and the church doesn't beg for your money more than any other church would.

edit: oh yeah we got holidays too, sucks for you guys lol