Sure but if it had been a company (or individual) other than Google with less than millions of dollars with which to defend itself how would it have turned out?

Sure but if it had been a company (or individual) other than Google with less than millions of dollars with which to defend itself how would it have turned out? They'd be out of business leaving lawyers to feed upon the carcass. How much it does it cost the US tech industry to get all the garbage rubber stamped by USPTO struck down? How much good innovation from small business and individuals has been killed off by small trolls and big company bullies?