just to play contratian...Just because it's been around forever doesn't mean it's good. I just don't see how being able to profit from a negative is a good thing. Just the mere concept opens itself to fraud and abuse, and that's obviously what's happened. Can't help but wonder how many companies that do multiple R/S's (like, say, Raven Moon), were nothing more that scams set up to bilk investors and create profits for short selling.
I think it would be a fundemental paradigm shift in the way the market is run to simply outlaw short-selling, hedge funds, etc. Let the Stock Market truly reflect the real value of a company.
yours truly,
Polly Anna Dave
:)