[snogglethorpe]

Exactly.

There are tons of great, non-intuitive, ideas which aren't patentable (and this is very intentional).

[Apple has a lot of these, which is why their constant complaints about copying, while understandable, are not particularly meaningful. Copying ideas is OK (and indeed, good for society)...]

[nirvana]

None of Apple's patents are on ideas.

It is the people who want to excuse violating the patents who claim the patents are on ideas or behaviors.

Of course, if you'd actually read the patents in question you'd know this.