I think we need a different form of patent.

Current patents attempt to claim: this thing I figured out is novel and nobody else should copy me.

Many times, they claim this so someone else can't claim it and thus avoid arbitration.

It would be nice if we could also file: this thing I figured out is not novel and is a natural progression to the current state-of-the-art.

I guess the only means of doing this currently is to attempt to invalidate a patent? Or maybe, a whole swath of patents?

There is nothing truly-novel here (IMHO.) This is like a toothbrush patent with a slightly different number of bristles than every other toothbrush patent in order to sell a toothbrush legally.