I have long understood the primary incentive to patent an idea is to protect research and development investments. It makes sense from the perspective that inve

I have long understood the primary incentive to patent an idea is to protect research and development investments. It makes sense from the perspective that inventions can often be reverse engineered for a fraction of initial R&D cost. I could be wrong, but if I am not... how much R&D went into this little gem of photography 'innovation'.