> (like, you'd think nearly anyone could figure out how to connect an
> LED to a battery, given the information that already exists on the net.
>  Hah!)

Hah ! indeed. I think most people's knowledge stops at hooking up
two wires to a light fitting or re-wiring a mains plug. The hubby that
can do either or both of those is a catch ;-)
 
> Alas, these are people who can't afford to pay the rates that
> people who know a lot about electronics and low level
> programming are used to getting, especially as "consultants."  There's
> probably a HUGE market for people with rather basic PIC hobbyist
> backgrounds to do "consultant" things at about minimum wage.
> Or less...

That's true. I find at the Inventor's Trust that these are ordinary
people with limited funds. At the early stages a cheapish proof-
of-concept is sufficient. After that they may decide to commit
to the idea. You can charge to make it worth your while but
without scaring them away. I guess I'm a softie and have empathy
with people with ideas so will do what I can at a price we both
find acceptable, and they're grateful for the realisation, I'm grateful
for the cash/opportunity/experience. And some of my best friends
are in or via the Inventor's Trust. One in particular, one of those
people you find once every so often, if at all, who is just awesome

They say "the harder you work, the luckier you get". I'd say you
don't get lucky unless people know you're there

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