I think as the tale of St. Theodora made its rounds in ROCOR in the early 20th century, that sensationalistic aspects were accepted, but many of these elements are now being rooted out.
Your right, that even if holy elders accepted it wholesale it should not be simply accepted. ST. John of Shanghai in his book On the Theotokos Birthgiver of God relates that on her deathbed the Theotokos prayed not to go through the tollhouses. This was never found even in the more sensationalistic accounts of the Greek version and is really no longer accepted.
Neither is a specific number of designated toll houses, not really part of the teaching any longer, neither is any belief that holy people at the hour of their death will be terrorized by these demons, etc.
Today the version of toll houses most readily accepted is that of Met. Ierotheos Vlachos who has discarded these more sensationalistic aspects. This more sanitized version even does away with tying the taxing of a soul with the 3rd, 9th or 40th day memorial service nor is there any idea of a "lingering soul" .
Met. Ierotheos also includes the teaching from St. Gregory of Nyssa that the passions affixed to the soul are attracted towards this dark realm naturally diverting the soul towards hades/hell by it's own accord. Here is Met. Ieritheos Vlachos teaching:
The Taxing of Souls