sometimes smaller is better

here is an article from yahoo describing how backyard astronomers with telescopes as small as 4 inches across are finding planets and other celestial objects that the big boys are missing with their huge and hugely expensive telescopes. hooray for the amateurs of the world. a passion to explore, a drive to tinker. look what can be accomplished. i wonder how many of the truly cool things in the world have been invented, discovered, or modified/improved by amateurs with no ties to big research budgets, just a general inquisitiveness (wow, how's that for a 25 cent word) and desire to know the unknown.