...This is a strange discussion thread. I assumed it was an ancient Usenet thread before business method patents became common.
But, it's not. It's recent. It's in the Lean Startup group.
You already can patent business models, if they're defined specifically enough: that's a business model patent, like Amazon One-Click.
You can probably also patent business models if they're not defined specifically enough, because the USPTO will let all sorts of things through these days, and then you can saber-rattle all sorts of things out of it.
Are you really a viable startup founder when you don't understand the basics of the current practices in IP law? Given that failed startups often have their IP as their only viable asset?
