The point here should be about responsibility. When I screw up something that I picked up from "out in the open", eg. my server deployments, it more technically makes it my own fault. I am therefore more inclined to study an open circuit design because if it fails on me, I'm only left with myself to blame.

...and if I in fact identify any shortcomings, I can help others not to get hit by them, which makes the concept of openness "safer" in a way that is the sum of collective knowledge.