I think mostly that peeps just like to banter. As you say, some are truly curious, some have been burned before but have not yet developed sincere curiosity or very much knowledge about how things really work, some really "believe," etc. I'm highly skeptical of any retail trader who claims to short pennies: the margin requirements are so high that it really doesn't make sense. And of course, there's always those who love to say I told you so, regardless of their respective positions...