[dasil003]

Incubators were around before YC though, and pg et al seemed to want to avoid being identified as an incubator. At any rate though, YC certainly redefined what an incubator is, and my impression is that the track record already shows better returns than any previous incubator. But as with any good idea, the cargo cults are quick to follow, and I think it's inevitable that a froth would be raised following this kind of success.