I'm talking about open market buying. They could easily run up the price...

Open market buying by insiders does not bring any new funds to the company; by participating in PP, the insiders help themselves as well as the company by injecting new money to continue with advancement of the deposits.

As far as running up the price, why would the isiders do that? Stock market is not a charity to help you or anybody else exit a position some no longer want to hold and refuse to sell at a loss.

...and bag holder retail..

Don't assume all retail investors are bag holders; many made money here and many are actually in the black and happy with their position. Some are indeed bag holders,  well underwater with this investment, but with mostly themselves to blame for the predicament they are in.