Exactly. And you know what? I'm willing to bet that those people you questioned, were only too happy to share their knowledge with you. They were likely relived to finally meet someone who had a genuine interest in how they did it, instead being bitterly jealous at their success.
I'm never jealous when someone finds success because I know a lot of preparation, hard work, and a little luck, went into it. Cheering on their win not only makes them feel good, but it can make them want to help you to do the same even more. When someone succeeds against long odds, it inspires me, and is social proof that if they could roll up their sleeves and get it done, so can I. :)