That would protect the physical out flow. However it would be very very costly interms of $s.

There are huge #s of in the money calls at and above 1,200. Getting the price down to 1,050 would demonstrate that cash means little to them but they don't have what it takes to pay out physical!

They are playing a dangerous game. Either they will fight to exit or get pounded out of the markets. Physical offtake is their weakness. It would make sense for the pm mafia to pay out huge sums of $s to those who have the in the money calls and let them use their gains to go elsewhere to buy physical... IF they can get it anywhere!