Avanti,
Thanks for being supportive and positive in your comments. It appears from them that you consider the rest of us who've posted here, every last one of us, to be missing from the group you label as "Anybody who knows what they are doing ...".
Q: Why would 350,000 patents be issued by the USPTO per year (2019, latest figures available) if they are effectively useless?
I prefer to take a more positive view, and I would like to see more of us support the hobby by pursuing more business that grows it. Innovative products can be a big part of that effort. Patents have been pursued, awarded and utilized since day one in the toy train and model railroading business. This will surely continue.
Beware of pontificators who imply that the answer to any question is "simple", as in this case. It never is. Consequently that does not mean that you shouldn't pursue something because it's difficult at times. Only you will know whether you're wasting your time if you do.
You're correct in implying that there's a legal 'chess game' to play in using the patent system. But, from my experience as a user of that system for nearly 40 years, it's neither as difficult nor as dire as you say.
Mike
