COOKS! Do you share your extra-special recipes?

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I have relatives who have certain dishes or desserts and such that they make. They are famous for it. They make it for family gatherings, special dinners, church events - whenever they are called to bring something special. They make it by special request. Everyone loves how they make it. It may be down to earth food like macaroni and cheese or fried chicken. It may be home-made rolls, a unique salad or some exotic gourmet dish. Maybe there is a secret ingredient in the spaghetti sauce that sets it apart. I suggested we put together a family cookbook. Everyone would contribute their favorite recipes. All agreed it would be a wonderful idea. Yet, when the time came to submit their recipes, not one person contributed a recipe for publishing. Some gave the excuse they did not have the time to write down the ingredients. How lame is that? Some, when pressed, gave verbal instructions that would never produce anything that was edible. I would think it a great legacy for our children to pass recipes from the entire family along and know that some of these recipes have been handed down for 5 or 6 generations. I am puzzled and dismayed by this behavior. These same people ,who do not share, are always trying to find out how someone else's food was prepared and trying to grab recipes for themselves. I don't understand their thinking. I have a friend who went to cooking school and she will not share recipes because she says she paid too much for her knowledge. What is your thinking on this? Am I too liberal in thinking it is OK to share with friends and relatives? If someone gave me a recipe and asked me not to share it, then I would respect their wishes. I would tell anyone who asked me that the friend who gave me the recipe asked me not to share it. But anything I acquired on my own, why not share? What is your thinking on this? Am I taking this too seriously?