There is a reason why and it's not simply for power play reasons. People who haven't paid their dues one way or another...don't merit the knowledge

Okay, so what is the reason? Or is that it, that unless there is payment of some sort for the knowledge, it hasn't been earned? Who decides if the payment is appropriate or worthy?

The only readily explained reason for gatekeeping, that I have seen, has been to preserve the initial impact of initiatory experiences. If you are told about them before, then it lessens the impact of the actual event when it happens. You bring too many preconceived notions if the information is spoiled ahead of time. That's a pretty good reason I think, is this similar to that?

If the answer is always going to end up being " I can't or won't say anymore" then I'll drop it for good after this one. Thank you again for giving me more explanation than just "because." or "that's the way it is", I do appreciate it.

I would say from experience that your impression of the other esoteric practices you mentioned is skewed. Though it might not have the strict parental "you are a child and wouldn't understand" mentality that seems to be prevalent from what I've read here, there is still plenty of initiation and secretism (mainly for the reason described above...or for power plays I guess)