There are certainly people throughout history we were prepared to speak 'outside the box', were in a tiny minority, and were prepared to suffer for making their views known.

Quite so, but I think you may have hit the nail on the head when you say they were prepared to suffer. Too right. House arrest, imprisonment, torture, martyrdom, ostracism, etc. We hardly see that in western culture (though we see vilification by stupid gits such as pete and Wacko on pointless internet forums, etc., of course). You say that the likes of Dawkins and Hitchens don't compare. Well, who would you compare them with from past ages in any case? If you want to make comparisons, do make them fair.