Regardless of the validity of this or other arguments against the current patent system, how viable would an effort to reform the system be? I think it would take a tremendous force to do so. Something on the order of a developed (not even imminent) and undeniable disadvantage relative to other countries who have a different system.

An analogy would be that you'll never be able to remove government entitlements unless the nation faces bankruptcy because the recipients will fight tooth and nail to keep them.