I think about patents as options on lawsuits. A 20-50k patent gives you the option of a ~1-5 million dollar lawsuit(s). As you noted there are also concerns a

I think about patents as options on lawsuits. A 20-50k patent gives you the option of a ~1-5 million dollar lawsuit(s). As you noted there are also concerns about time. It takes years to get the option and then years to exercise it.