I think you make sense.
To me, it's not any inherent secrecy in the ritual - it's respecting other GLOs and my own oath to Alpha Xi Delta.
I'm not even sure secrecy is a necessary feature of a GLO, but since I've agreed to follow by my organization's rules, I respect that oath and in turn treat other GLO's wishes with the same respect. If Beta doesn't care who collects their pins, I can't fault a collector who wants them, just like I wouldn't see a problem in someone writing a thesis on DU's ritual.
As long as we wish secrecy, the problem I see with such collections isn't someone like wptw doing research, even if it only benefits himself. It's that some nutcase will convince other researchers he's serious, and then blow the lid off the secrets for everyone. I think that's what makes me nervous. If the world ever knows the contents of AXD's rituals, I want it to us who tells them, not someone on a information-wants-to-be-free spree.