OK so why not take the company private since it has been 20 years and this is the excuse by you and management? Instead of taking money from the public! ?? The way you describe it, it is a no win situation for those who are invested in this ticker! So why continue to sell shares to individuals when the company can't do anything to bring shareholder value?
Learn the difference between short interest and volume. That and the lack of ftd's is all one needs to know.
MM's make a market and are computerized. And, for the last time, hedge funds have /zero interest in these junk tickers, nor do their rules allow them to trade them.