I think I'd prefer it if filing for a patent would cost like $500, or even less, but then the USPTO would reject most applications by default, instead of accept

I think I'd prefer it if filing for a patent would cost like $500, or even less, but then the USPTO would reject most applications by default, instead of accepting most applications by default, as they do now. I'd prefer a rejection bias over an acceptance one. And I think a patent costing however many thousands of dollars it does now puts some pressure on USPTO employees to accept most patents.