One thing it also boils down to is RESPECT. Do I respect these mod authors for their hard work? For giving me weeks upon weeks and beyond of enjoyment? For allowing me to meet some very awesome people? Why shouldn't I ask them. That list I put together, you know how long it took me to track all that information down, WHILE sick as a dog and on some strong meds? 15 minutes. You guys make it seem like it will take hours to track it down, but I had it done in 15 minutes. With going back and getting links it was longer, but well... that was an internal document only. So its done, so you spend 5 minutes writing up a C&P statement asking for permission and clicking links to ask, and bam wait for replies. So you waste what, ten maybe fifteen minutes initially until you hear back?
The whole, everything should be free, this community... well, I don't have much to judge it on to be fair. But it is someone elses work, and they have a right to protect it any way they see fit.