But really good ideas are rare.

I understand that an idea not backed by an implementation is near useless, but the current mantra about the value of ideas is sort of like saying that cars are a dime a dozen, and it's the driver that matters.

All other things being equal, though, your raw materials (cars or ideas or what have you) do matter.

Current patent nonsense aside, there are often good reasons why people do not want others to know exactly what they are planning or doing, or want a means to restrict others from attempting their own implementation.