Skunks, I believe you are mistaken. If you have a million shares of stock selling at $1, your portfolio is worth a million dollars. If there is an R/S of 1 million to 1, then you will be left with 1 share....HOWEVER, that share will be worth a million dollars, and your portfolio will be worth 1 million dollars. You forget that there is NO change to the value of the stock when there is a split or an R/S because the PPS changes accordingly. You are left with the same amount. Frank Olsen can R/S or split however many times he wants, the value of the underlying stock WILL NOT CHANGE! It's simple math.
Buybacks and dilution are separate issues, no matter what the r/s or split satus, they will affect the PPS accordingly. The reason why an R/S appears devistating is if the PPS drops after it (same as why a stock split appears good if the pps goes up after it), but don't forget that that drop is simply showing you the true value of the stock whether you hold a million shares or one share. But, after an R/S you can get a better idea of how little the stock is worth, because there is room to drop. When the stock is stuck at .0001, it's hard for shareholders to see that the stock is worth less than .0001. An R/S simply illustrates what is there --- the stock is worth infinitesimal due to DILUTION!!!! Dilution kills you regardless of an R/S or split or whatever. They are separate issues.