This attitude is really self-defeating. Even pg has software patents. It'd probably be in your self-interest to start thinking about why patents aren't terrible.
thinking a system sucks doesn't preclude taking opportunities that system presents you.
Agreed. They certainly aren't terrible if you own the patent. Great companies like Intellectual Ventures simply could not exist without them. Software patents open up a lot of innovative business models without the need to spend all the boring time and effort building stuff.
To be fair, Loopt does seem to be one of the pioneers in location sharing. And they have built a product. IV, on the other hand..