My take on why this potiential doesnt gets tapped, although the tools are there (communities, wikis etc... the internet in general which is based on collaboration at its core... well originally)
Well, most "idea" ppl only have a simple "idea" and its VERY likely someone else had it too ... most often loooong time ago! (platos world of idea
or sheldrakes morphogenetic fields)
... but already here 96% of "good","cool" ideas die off, since it looks like lot of work for most modern day people... well it is somehow... but ITS NOT if you are REALLY keen on working it.
Basically i think that it is a problem of our times in general, not only ArmA... i can see that every working day at any job/workplace i been to as customer or worker... :
:
If you add the arrogance and eliteness feeling of others already "been there" to that, you can understand why there is a problem. (i dont like that character weakness neither)
i like your point, but many just want to be spoonfed and not really willing to commit time on their own learning the basics so you can talk on the same level.
Understand its not like in the 50s sweatshop where you and two or three of your buddies work and where you go to and can learn by example. And even back in the "good 'ol days", if you didnt know how to use the benchgrinder or the files you would have been delegated to clean the shop or get food or smth...