Consider this: if math could be patented, IMHO we'd still be in the stone age. Maybe patents made sense two hundred years ago, but these days, they are mostly used as a tool for fighting between big corps and scaring the hell out of small players.
On the other hand, if solo inventors do not know how to monetize their invention, they should give/sell it to someone who will know, not to milk the idea it for decades.
> On the other hand, if solo inventors do not know how to monetize their invention, they should give/sell it to someone who will know, not to milk the idea it for decades.
That's partly what patents are for. So a small inventor can sell a technology without getting reverse-engineered in the sales process. If they do get reverse-engineered, then there is a whole new set of patent customers who will buy the patents in order to sue over them.
On the other hand, if solo inventors do not know how to monetize their invention, they should give/sell it to someone who will know, not to milk the idea it for decades.