Could you monetize these ideas? How much would they make you?

Also, how do you see these shares? As a commitement? How much of your time would you spend on each? They had the idea so they deserve a premium but if you will spend just as much time as them on it, that premium is all that separates you from them.

Commitement matters. As important as ideas are, without commitement and execution, they are nothing.

Its commitment and Cash. We are going to fund ourself. Its a brilliant idea. Its simple and it applies to a long tail economy. I believe its a multi million dollar idea that needs to be executed well. Also I think that my idea can be a platform for theirs... Everyone will win from working together. I just think that giving up 40% of a nearly finished product is big.

We identified our core features & strengths. Quick patent searches on these let us know whether there is something out there identical or similar to what we are doing at a macro scale. Keep in mind, patents are worded in lawyer-speak so we can't say there is nothing out there until spending a lot more time & resources (lawyer money).

It is fairly common to find that little things you do are patentable so focusing on the big things will keep your task manageable.