i understand what you guys are saying, but a few points-
the goal of the cia forum is to submit ideas for zanz to consider to put into the game
if a card idea (ie mechanic) has already been submitted, it is trivial to change the element, and as such, is not a significant difference
it is understandable that nobody, not even i, can have read every card idea, but as such, when it is pointed out that the mechanic is not novel, it is up to the card designer to alter the card mechanic to be distinct, or opt to drop it if they are unable to do so. there is no "penalty" for not knowing that the card idea has already been thought up when you post your card, so no worries.
with all that said, i have given some attempts at giving pc to life, and encourage the development of new mechanics for doing so.