It's not just protecting the idea, it's about creating a user base and rapport to go with it. I can go out and create a worse version right now, but market it immediately and create a community around it, and then boom I have a thriving business. This has a great potential not only to grow as an app to plan your machine ahead of time, but it can also easily become the go to place for hardware reviews and articles on DYI computer integration, and the number one spot for hardware searches.

This can become the Google of PC Hardware searches and as such MUST be protected and monetized by means of an affiliate program ASAP!

By the way, not a big fan of the name. Something like PCHardware.com seems like a better fit.