I noted last week that as beneficiaries of market-beating picks from Tom Gardner and guest analysts, members of Motley Fool Hidden Gems have it pretty good. But as awesome as the monthly newsletters and stock selections are, what most don't know is that the finest gem of this service is the resulting marvelous conversation among its members.

For instance, who could've imagined that a company that deals with the dead -- Alderwoods (NASDAQ:AWGI) -- would ignite such lively discussions about its business. Outstanding analysis on its quarterly results and the impressions that one investor had from watching one of Alderwoods' funerals are but a taste of the amazing dialogue about this industry.

Do companies that deal with the dead give you the willies? Maybe you're a connoisseur of finger-licking foods and can shed some light on a Hidden Gems restaurant stock. How does it stack up against the competition? Or, how does the latest movement in commodity prices affect the company's bottom line? We want to hear from you.

If your taste in food goes about as far as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, perhaps you have medical experience and can add to the chatter about companies developing drugs and devices. What steps will a company need to take to gain further acceptance among doctors? In your experience, can a product become the de facto application for the targeted ailment? We want to hear from you and fellow investors like you.

When it comes to medical discussions, you may be like me and get that deer-in-the-headlights look. Perhaps the extent of your medical knowledge is a first aid kit. Every boat should have one, and if you're a boater, there are fellow wave runners waiting to hear from you. How does the quality and performance of a Hidden Gem's watercraft measure up against other boats in its class? If you are a shareholder, but believe playing in water is for fish only, come on in anyway and listen to what other boating enthusiasts have to say about the company, its product, and its stock.

If boating isn't your thing, but you are a world-renowned sleeper, then share your perspective on the Select Comfort (NASDAQ:SCSS) mattress. What benefits have you experienced from its dual-chambered air system? And keep it clean.

These are just a few examples of the thousands of invaluable discussions that have taken place since Hidden Gems began. These types of contributions from individuals are a critical component of achieving stellar market-beating returns. With the lack of available information on many small- and micro-cap companies, investors have joined together on the Hidden Gems message boards to dig up all the material they can on their favorite stocks, collectively forming a winning strategy to gain an advantage over the market. So much is shared and discussed on the picks, chances are that if it's not mentioned on these boards, you haven't missed anything. No rock remains unturned.

When you first step inside the world of Hidden Gems, you'll soon realize that this is not your average passive subscription, but an active, engaging, studying, and sharing partnership where everyday folks work together for the common goal of long-term investing success. As the search continues for the next Hidden Gem, you'll find, as we have, that the true treasure of this service is insightful contributions from investors just like you.

Fool contributor Jeremy MacNealy does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned.