Hi Pic et.al,
"The most logical thing I have heard in regards to why our sector sucks is partly hedge fund positions[shorting, etc] and ETF shananigans"
Don't dis-agree with what you say but instead of "giving in" to the "criminals" suggest there are ways to beat them (see my previous post).
Instead of looking at a "half empty glass" consider it half full, get involved and wait for the glass to be filled to overflowing.
Good Luck to all!