My take on patents is they are not useful for most people. The only way you will ever get any money from it is through lawsuits. These can take the form of offensive lawsuits (other products use your idea) or defensive lawsuits (protect yourself from other patent portfolios).

If you make a product, you absolutely need to have patents, preferably hundreds of them, to protect yourself. If you do not plan to make the product, you need a warchest and utter ruthlessness.

Still, they are good bragging rights, no?

-Biscuits