[marknutter]

I think you're not getting why people say the execution is more important. First off, how do you know an idea is so great until it's become a huge success? Secondly, I run into people all the time who have "great ideas" but no technical expertise to pull it off, and they always believe that coming up with the idea is half the battle. Often times, the best ideas are the most obvious ideas, and of course the most obvious ideas are the ones most likely to have been thought of already. What sets people apart is their execution.

A ton of effort on a half baked idea is always worth more than no effort on a great idea, IMHO.