Come on Art, you know when brokers restrict trading investors get angry and whine. Since orders were settling, each probably assumed their own customers were fine until the FTDs started and kept growing. Many posters assumed the same.
It took awhile for their Reps to even comprehend what was occurring let alone the magnitude of it. They gave different answers when asked the same question. If brokers were really out to protect customers, they wouldn't allow us to buy/sell any pennystocks. Some like TDA aggressively restrict trading now. When they do it, investors get angry and whine.
-----
"We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful."
-- Warren Buffett