You know, an even better method might be for the problem statement to be open to the public. People could then submit their solutions, and if no one came up wit

You know, an even better method might be for the problem statement to be open to the public. People could then submit their solutions, and if no one came up with the same idea then it's patentable. This way if it truly is something with a massive inventive step, then people can get the patent. If it's something as simple as what you describe, then there's no way it would be patented in the first place.