MarketFest, The approach you described could generally be included under my category #3, ie - more elaborate/advanced strategies of hedge funds.
I'm not sure I understand why the rationale for buying protective puts on a $3 stock that could drop to $1.50 wouldn't be the same as for buying protective puts on a $30 stock that could drop to $15? Either way, the risk of going without a hedge would be a loss of 50% of one's investment.