This spring I walked with different groups over different periods. Some stayed back to take a rest day, others had come to the end of theor time off.
And when I got injured and spent a few days in an albergue waiting for Easter weekend to end so I could see a doctor I kept eyeing my fellow albergue mates that were coming in saying to myself: "nope, not walking that lot, let's see what tomorrow brings".
I only heard of the term "Camino family" on my second Camino, and that was 2012, when mochileros and the "Red de albergues" had appeared, so perhaps the "family" was part of thisnew way of approaching the Camino. Actually, the term was not "Camino family" but "Camino wife".
I never did ask if that came with "benefits"!
For me finding walking companions makes the walk go much faster. The distraction from the conversation helps forget the heat and foot pain, and it can also be a great motivation to follow a better walker when one is down and out at the end of the day.
But after the walking I am happy to do my own thing, and join new people for a drink or dinner.
I believe that if the people we meet on day 1 are soooo fabulous, there really is no reason why those following one or two days behind aren't just as wonderful. This is why I don't feel the need to keep uo with a group, I prefer to see what else/who else this walk may bring.
And yes, there are walks when you don't click with anyone at all, but you can still have civilised conversations and look out for each other.
One funny thing about the Caminos is that for as much as we go on and on about how it is one of the rare moments in life when we are open to others and easily meet and bind with similar minded people, is that we very often do not exchange contact information.