Ask HN: Is it worth doing a patent?

Our online backend technology and business process seems unique enough to be able to patent, but I wonder if it is really worth the time, effort and cost. I know Mint.com and eHarmony have patented their tech process, but I wonder if it really adds value to the company, or gives them a true legal defensible position against a competitor in the real world.

I ask this, because I read the eHarmony patent end to end, and it seems to lay out how to build the backend.

It seems like revealing this to the world might not be smart. With some little tweaks or additions it seems like a competitor could use basically the same process to compete against them.

To me, this is something I think we would not want to reveal.

Is a patent a smart move? What do you think?