"The fact that one of them is slightly better than the other in one regard doesn't change the fact that neither of them are really that worthy of your support"
Retaining them defensively isn't "slightly better". Using them offensively is significantly worse.
"You're right that Google haven't been patent aggressors up until now but if recent behaviour teaches us anything it's that Google have been very willing to change what they've stood for historically. If you believe that they'd never change that position if they felt it suited them then you have more faith in them than I do."
That just sounds like weak speculation to me. Patent fee extortion is the sort of thing you do if you have a gradually declining (Apple) or minimal (MS) market share.
Retaining them defensively isn't "slightly better". Using them offensively is significantly worse.
That is only until you study how you use defensive patents defensively.
Suppose that you join a patent pool like http://www.rpxcorp.com/. Then you're sued by a patent troll with no assets other than a patent. How exactly is RPX going to help you?
They used to state it in their FAQ. Then removed it, but I'm sure they still do it. They negotiate with the troll. And to make it cheap, they give the troll what they want. They give the troll another patent, in return for a binding contract to not sue anyone protected by RPX.
(I became aware of this possibility after 3 patents taken out with my name on it when I was younger got sold to RPX.)
Retaining them defensively isn't "slightly better". Using them offensively is significantly worse.
"You're right that Google haven't been patent aggressors up until now but if recent behaviour teaches us anything it's that Google have been very willing to change what they've stood for historically. If you believe that they'd never change that position if they felt it suited them then you have more faith in them than I do."
That just sounds like weak speculation to me. Patent fee extortion is the sort of thing you do if you have a gradually declining (Apple) or minimal (MS) market share.