I can assure you they are not "laughing" right now.
The big thing you forget is that as each day goes by, and the more shares shorted/calls bought, their cost of their investment increases.
A massive amount of shares were shorted around the $3.5 range. 1 share shorted on margin plus cost of a call plus usury interest rates, makes for a trade that is deep in the hole now...and the debt clock ticks ever day.
EVERY investor will tell you margin, or leverage, can be your best friend or worst enemy....