No need to ask, I'll tell you why I used to hide NB pickups. When it comes to trip trading I am 99% self taught, and for years I missed out on good deals because I simply didn't know how the system worked and I didn't have any friends/relatives looking out for me. I remember one day sitting in my crashpad as a LH during a weather event after 4+ years on property, ready to go and hoping to pick up my first ever 100% PPU trip. I was dumbfounded as four trips came open and marched up to 75% PPU... and then never came open at 100% for me to grab. And yet, when I checked they had all been awarded at 100% (and guys junior to me got some of them too). And of course many of their pickups were hidden to boot. Tough lesson, but I soon figured out how to put in pickups in advance so that I'd get a fair shot commensurate with my seniority (I'm sure you can too if you put in the time or asked the right person).

In observing the pickup behaviors of other pilots, I also noticed how I could pick up good deal trips with DHs to/from where I live in the real time pickup window. These were the sorts of trips that other local pilots, especially senior ones, would jump on the same as me. Considering that no one held my hand to teach me trip trading in my early years, I can't say I feel the need to advertise to those who hosed me for years what I've since learned how to do. None of my pickups or trades were remotely "nefarious". Meanwhile, I've been contacted more than once by pilots who innocently ask if I want to trade away the trip I'm quietly sitting on with no trades submitted whatsoever... but that happen to be with an LCA CA. What a personal foul. Those guys get put on my Wagon List (as in, if I get the chance I'd like to fix their wagons). These days I explain trip trading to a very steady stream of new hires, I figure it gives them a massive head start over what I began with and will protect them from being taken advantage of.

That all said, I'd just as soon have the ability to select whether to hide individual pickups/trades rather than a blanket selection. I'd prefer that my trip trades be visible at least, really as a form of advertising. And in fact, I've helped guys who leave their trades visible by picking up the open trip they want and then trading with them. I'm on the 777 now, and don't bother hiding my pickups/trades. Why? Because there are no DHs to/from where I live and it is a far less dynamic environment for pickups. If I bite the bullet and go NB CA after a new contract, I'll probably go back to cloaking mode just for my pickups. My calendar in CCS and Crew Companion is always visible.