Thanks Frog That post is just full of valuable information for my own personal enlightenment. I've been kicking around what I think is a great invention idea for about 11 years, and my brother has one too. I've never really looked into the patent idea, but at least now I have a realistic picture of the realities of getting a patent approved.
We actually do agree on something. Your last paragraph says it. I too believe most of the patent applications will be approved, and most likely in some "diminished" form; some have all ready been revised, as I recall. The financial boost depends largely on how well they market the technology. Time will tell.