I thought we already had a first to file system, at least over here. If there is no public disclosure then it's the date of filing that's important.
When I was employed, many years ago, employers would pick up the tab for a patent application. But working for myself, I soon realised the expense and hassle involved. I had a meeting with a patent agent once, and to be honest, it was exactly like dealing with a lawyer and exactly not like dealing with an engineer.
What I've done instead, quite a few times, is to file an initial application myself. That gives me a breathing space (a year in the UK system) but at the expense of public disclosure, and sets a filing date.
Sometimes the issue when you come up with an idea is just to stop someone else patenting it against you, and to make sure you get the kudos. In that case, publishing the idea is a good route, and that's one of the services that ES can provide. I can just see patent lawyers of the future reading the ES archives - at someone else's expense of course.
Nick