This reminds me of engineers trying to work around patents. I spoke to a guy who manufactures flexible guide posts which can flex in any 360 direction. He has a

This reminds me of engineers trying to work around patents. I spoke to a guy who manufactures flexible guide posts which can flex in any 360 direction. He has a patent on it, and the flexible part is cylindrical. He said competitors work around the patent by making square shaped posts. Obviously this is not the most natural shape if you were to want to flex in all directions.