Currently, if I search Google for "writing blog post titles SEO", this specific post is on the first page. I think this proves social media links matter a lot.
Any number of factors could cause that. It's not on the first page for me. "A followed B, so B must have caused A" is how most miracle cure, weight loss, marketing, and money making products are born. Most are bogus or fail in the long term.
I once wrote a post about Apple having more cash than Slovenia's GDP. Without much optimization, no strong backlinks, but with a lot of social virality - the post was on the first page for Google "Apple Slovenia" for at least a year.
Good article anyway! I think it's mostly fair. Although when people a secretive of their ideas, it's also that they don't want their incomplete or incubating idea out there amongst colleagues and friends. Inevitably someone asks, (and it might be your mum who asks) "so how's the internet-enabled frypan idea going?", and then you have to talk about it as if it's real to someone who probably can't help you with it anyway.
I obviously can't take responsibility for every developer in the world, but most of them I know think in a similar fashion that me. :)
I think you need to consider your advantages and the fact that you are already ahead with your MVP. There is no need to disclose everything. Besides, even if your MVP is working as it is supposed to, there are miles till you actually make in in the market. Been there, done that.
Think about this: if the person has the skills / connections / opportunity to make execute this idea better than you, you should consider him / her a partner in the project.
