We must remember that users are golden. This is what makes Facebook, Google, and Amazon so valuable. The user base is very large and keeps returning on a daily basis.

Yep, this is why I wrote my previous anti-burn post, which you did an even better job explaining.

Back when I was actively running my R&D business, I would tell my employees and others:

• Even though I view creating and protecting Intellectual Property (IP) as an extremely important aspect of business, I will take market share over IP any day.
• The end goal of IP is to gain market share.
  • Given the choice between market share with zero IP and solid IP with zero market share, give me the market share -- from there, I will figure out a way to protect it.