And right here is the dilemma of IP law. A patent would give you an incentive to make a product that you might not otherwise make, but it also prevents a competitor from making a better product that would be a better outcome for consumers.
The IP law is here to ensure knowledge disseminates... So why "defend" stuff ? Why "protect" ? Just disseminate and if you're idea has merit and requires profound knowledge then you'll naturally have customers... But maybe it won't be a winner-takes-it-all...