Right but a policy change isn't the guarentee offered just the debate. Getting to a debate is a win! Despite no concrete policy changes it doesn't mean there won't be other second order effects from having this bought to peoples attention.

If you think we're going to have government by petition then I don't know what to tell you.

I don't think people want government by petition, I think they just want petitions to have any meaningful impact at all. Which they currently don't.