If it's so obvious and trivial to duplicate, why don't you have scads of competitors already? You can't be operating in a vacuum.

Because the other companies in the niche are not posting blog entries like I am. It's not "obvious" but it's easy to copy.

This is what doesn't add up. If you want to make money, why would you post anything and risk killing the golden goose? If you want to share your wisdom or experience, why do so in a vague, watered down fashion? Why not just wait, and publish when you can back up your posts with hard facts?

When I started my blog, the explanation was in one of my first posts, but let me explain again - on the one hand I am doing something that makes me quick cash. On the other hand, I am building an audience with my blog. Then I use the quick cash to build more substantial products and use the audience I built with my blog to market my new products.

That was my plan, and I'm currently executing it.

"If you want to make money, why would you post anything and risk killing the golden goose?"

"If you want to share your wisdom or experience, why do so in a vague, watered down fashion?"

Seems to me that your two questions here almost answer each other.