Related: Patents in the US Are Becoming Stronger (Better Quality), But the Patent 'Industry' is Trying to Change That

\ Reference: USPTO Director Lee Discusses Importance Of Patent Quality

Summary: An expressed desire to improve the US patent system rather than treat is like a money-making machine, as illuminated in recent days by Patently-O

THE USPTO, according to this new post, wants "to better facilitate examination and ultimately improve patent quality at issuance."

Sounds a lot like the EPO's examiners.

To quote more:

Patentees often blame the USPTO for low patent quality. Examiners though often reflect upon the principle “garbage-in, garbage out.”

Yes, the USPTO spent over a decade granting patents which were utter rubbish. We protested against it and it seems like the message is getting through owing to Alice. The USPTO has developed an image issue and it is now trying to tackle it, potentially with a ban on all software patents.

Joe Matal, who would be better than Iancu as permanent Director of the USPTO, has also published this post about inventorship and another regarding privacy.

To quote the latter:

(a) Privileged communications. A communication between a client and a USPTO patent practitioner or a foreign jurisdiction patent practitioner that is reasonably necessary and incident to the scope of the practitioner’s authority shall receive the same protections of privilege under Federal law as if that communication were between a client and an attorney authorized to practice in the United States, including all limitations and exceptions.

Worthless promises such as these might provide peace of mind (to some), but since the US government and various US corporations (including E-mail service providers) are spying on everything worldwide, they respect no "privilege" per se. In fact, one of the strongest arguments against mass surveillance is that it harms journalism and legal processes (confidentiality eliminated). ⬆