No, I'm afraid I don't need a reality check. In case you hadn't noticed, the world changed a couple of years ago. You can Google the instructions for just about anything but that doesn't make it right.
I said it before and I'll say it again. The operating details for aircraft systems are made available to all those with a legitimate need for them in the course of their training. There has to be a doubt as to why anyone else needs to know. In an environment where a civil airliner can be legally shot out of the sky if it deviates from flight plan and can't identify itself, I can think of plenty of reasons why non-aircrew might want to know the proper use of mode S transponder controls, what codes to enter and the interoperability of those ATC installations with military IFF systems.
We'll soon have people posting questions about the new aircraft surveillance equipment that will shortly be mandated and no doubt there will be people daft enough to provide detailed answers.