> On the other hand, if solo inventors do not know how to monetize their invention, they should give/sell it to someone who will know, not to milk the idea it f

> On the other hand, if solo inventors do not know how to monetize their invention, they should give/sell it to someone who will know, not to milk the idea it for decades. That's partly what patents are for. So a small inventor can sell a technology without getting reverse-engineered in the sales process. If they do get reverse-engineered, then there is a whole new set of patent customers who will buy the patents in order to sue over them.