Wow, never thought about that before. You're totally right.

Remember reading how some authors add twists just for shock value.

Ugh, this hits home. I dealt with a wind turbine patent stuck for six years. File a provisional patent first, then demand a fast-track review with climate impact data. Like @the_pat said, tech gets shelved, but sharing early designs in safe industry groups can build pressure. I saw a carbon capture patent move faster when the team joined a green tech pool and lobbied congress. It's all about pushing hard on both legal and public fronts to speed things up.