The thing I have about Saudi Arabia and Saudi officials is that they have a 'holier than thou' mentality and just because the cities of Mecca and Medina are in that country that means that they are above all Muslims or as if they are the representative of what Muslims should be. I agree with you that being a Muslim depends on one's ability to ascertain what the Holy Q'uran states, and the personal relationship the Muslim or Muslimah has with the Creator, the Most Merciful Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala...! My relationship with ALLAH Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala is what will save me in the day of Judgment, not on whether or not i can grow a beard, what i eat, how much money i gave in Zakat, or what thoughts i had. Because in the end, ALLAH Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala judges in His heart, and on the level of the Divine.
The hadiths are what the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did, and they are not requisite to salvation. Muhammad (pbuh) is not ALLAH , just a man , and dust like us, and dust did he return.