[DivingForGold]

Yes.

Registered as a micro entity, filed patent myself, as the least expensive patent attorney I could find was like $5K down just to "start" to be involved. Ultimately, the patent application was denied. The legal costs could not justify the means. An assessment of the practical marketability of the product must be made first objectively, preferably by others, rather than the creator who is likely too subjective.

[shaheeniquebal]

Thanks for sharing that — really helpful perspective.

Can I ask: in situations like yours, would a lower-cost way to establish defensible prior art (basically a time-stamped public disclosure that blocks others from patenting the same idea) have been useful, or would it still not have justified the effort?