sdtke.....You asked why a reverse split would reduce shareholder value?....Allow me to explain.....
IF(and that's a big if), the A/S but not O/S are also reverse split, it is true that the shareholder value is not effected in any way. However, in almost every case that I have seen(and if I had to put a number on it, I'd say 96% of the time) in the penny stock world, the O/S is reversed, but management withholds any changes with their non issued shares. What this does is totally changes the leverage position to the advantage of management, and most definitely does reduce the equity value of myself and any other average Joe investors.
I hope you can consider this enlightening.