I’m no chosid of R’ Weiss, nor am I against some kind of increased role for women in leadership roles in Orthodox congregations.
In terms of presence and leadership, the two primary elements cited by rishonim in excluding women from non rabbinic leadership roles were ” nikayon” and “kovod hatzibur”.
Nikayon referenced the role as mothers, and the needs of small children that mothers would tend to, and all that it entails. Kovod Hatzibur is by definition a subjective thing, and if the tzibur (not the rov) doesn’t feel slighted, the issue is diminished, if not removed completely.
A well educated and/or seicheldik woman who is not looking after kids and is respected by the tzibur should be, I believe, enabled to take leadership roles in the governance of a shul.
Even for the most liberal, though, could a woman fulfill all the roles of a Rov? She can’t be an Eid; She can’t sit on a beis din; She can’t daven for the omud; Can she be an encourager for the performance of mitzvos she is not obligated to perform?
Thus lots of reasons a woman can’t or shouldn’t perform all the duties of a Rov, even if she is just as well educated in halocho as one.
However – women are already fulfilling the roles of toanei halocho in divorce cases in botei din in Israel. No need for smicha to know halocho, and A woman can arguably represent the needs of a woman in a divorce better than a man can.
Also, as mentioned above, it is extremely uncomfortable for women to go to a Rov with issues relating to Nidah and bediko. So much so, that I know of women who simply refuse to ask these shailos if it means having to do so. The harm this potentially does to shalom bayis is grave. It seems to me that there is a need for women to assume a role as halachic advisors or decisors on matters of taharas hamishpocha.
As we all know, there is an enormous amount of expertise on kashrus issues among the women of our communities. It has long been informal practice to ask such questions woman to woman. Not much of a change to encourage their presence in kehilos as halachic advisors on these issues either.
There are other areas like these where a halachic role for women should be encouraged, IMHO. Resistance to this degree of female participation in halacho is on much weaker ground than resistance to the maharat concept.