Though Joe, when all is said and done, most people using a nom-de-plume are not hiding behind it, they just like it. I consider mine a way of shouting out my fondness for Kurt Vonnegut's writing. I never attack anybody and have no reason to hide, but it just isn't important that anybody know i'm Steve Ellis. The rare people I have had little tiffs with know who I am, so big deal.
I do think the content is more important than who is saying it. With rare exceptions on this board of genuine experts, the name just is of no importance. For instance, I'm nobody in the pool world, maybe even nobody in the world; but I still might have a nugget to drop here now and again, my name will have no bearing at all on the value, or lack thereof, of that nugget. Whereas, if Scott Lee or Bob Jewett has something to say their name lends a certain amount of credibility to what they say and it might be important that it is known.
Some people just like more privacy than you or I, in real life and online, I for one don't think any the less of their opinions or them for it.
JMHO.