But despite their best efforts, mistakes are inevitable and patents may be
granted to unworkable ideas. Some 5,000 examiners must currently handle a
load of 350,000 applications per year

So? I'm not sure why anyone would care about a patent being issue for
an unworkable idea. So the inventor is out $15,000 in attorney fees, so
what? The problem with the patent office happens when a patent officer
accepts a patent for something that is not patentable or too similar to
an existing patent. When you submit your patent the examiner will
return similar patents and require you to reword yours so it doesn't
overlap the existing patent. However, worst case the examiner gets it
wrong. So what? You try to stop someone from using your idea, that
person takes you to court and shows your idea already existed somewhere
else, judge throws our your patent. I"m not seeing the danger here.

-Robert (holder 3 U.S. patents, additional patents pending)