Quick question and I'm prepared to be shot down here, don't patents show that ideas are actually worth something? Have a great idea? Patent it. Not all ideas are patentable but I'm sure some are.

I don't believe it's possible to patent an idea alone; you have to show some form of how the idea should work, and it is that which is patented. Which kinda takes us back to the central point - an idea on its own really isn't worth much unless you know what you're going to do with it :)