The fact software patents are published in their patent form isn't any better than "hiding these inventions". As others commented, nobody reads software patents (it's even legally dangerous to do so).

What we have no is the worst of all worlds: Invention secrecy and noncompetitive monopolies.

Also, software is a composition of far more patentable components than other things -- so patents are much more troublesome in that field. A software patent is somewhat like patenting a literary concept or a musical technique.