In the FC method repo the items (WDLs and configs) are listed and are readable by every registered FC user if an OWNER of the item (WDL or config) sets the "Publicly Readable?" box. If one is an OWNER of a a publicly readable item, then one can view the item in the list AND navigate to the item and open the "Permissions" box/window and see who else has permissions on the item AND one can see if in fact the "Publicly Readable?" box is checked or unchecked.
In cases where an item is READER to all because it is public BUT one is NOT an owner of the item, one can view the item in the method repo, but since one is NOT OWNER, but only READER, that individual cannot view the permissions box to see who else can see the item. In this scenario one might wish to recommend or promote a WDL to another registered FC user (who could view the item because it is public) but the person doing the promoting cannot verify if the WDL is public or not, and they can only verify that they have READER on it because a) they are explicitly enumerated as a READER or b) they have READER because it is public.
To allow people to confidently indicate WDLs for sharing to other registered FC users and to allow people to say things like "use this WDL is it public and so you have permission to view it." I think that WDLs that are public should perhaps should have some tag, marker, emblem, or other indicator that quickly distinguishes it as public.