Aren't we also encouraged to embrace "disruptive" ideas that change the status quo? No focus groups, full of average people who are content with the default is going to give that much meaningful feedback for game changing features IMO...
Get out there and empathize with real people with real problems. You'll find that even the most boring, ho-hum, run of the mill person will be happy to lay down hard cash for your game changing idea if it fixes THEIR problem.
That being said, focus groups are a horrible way to get meaningful feedback. Customer interviews and other more in depth ethnographic techniques are going to deliver what you're looking for.