The problem with SGI is mindless chanting, a warped faith, and lack of serious study.

I hope you won't stop chanting because if you do, you will have affirmed SGI's lie that you can not continue to chant without them. They stress mechanical chanting because, were they to stress the practice of faith that Nichiren advocated, it would become apparent to the practitioner that there is no need for the Soka Gakkai. Chanting itself does not cause you to suspend critical thinking. Nichiren Daishonin had, and many Daimoku chanters today have, superb critical thinking faculties. The problem is mindless chanting, a warped faith, and lack of serious study.