I find the inconsistency in copyright law to be fascinating. Like you bring up, a recipe is rarely patented (although it is possible to do so!). A new technology can be patented but it takes enormous resources to get a global patent.
On the other side of this is creative fields like music for example. As soon as I record (in writing or a recording) a new, original, piece of music, it is globally copyrighted without me having to do anything!

I agree that IP-laws probably do more harm than good.