Golden Hopes, Right on;
Actually there is no reason for the company to be sold ever.
But we have to acknowlege that most shares being held by institutions, these institutions are not in love with the stock but are here merely to make money and quickly if they can. They will sell for less to get their profits to invest in another venture.
There will also be poster on their behalf to tell you that take the profits offered and invest in another play, They will even suggest in what to invest that they think have better prospects in the near future than your beloved Noront. Anything to get you to part with your shares at Their price.
That 8 billion $ is what we know presently. There has to be much more that we do not know about.

Been There, you also are right on:
It was no accident that Noront switched chromite claims for possible nickel ones. First, Cliffs being More interested in chromite would look more at our neighbour so it is a defencive move and Second;
Noront management must have some serious clues that the claims they obtained must have good chances of increasing our nickel ore assets.

I also dream and it is with the ore and potential that Noront holds and not the management or potential buyout suitors.
However we have to accept that not holding the majority of the shares we retailers are not in a position to dictate but are likely to be left hanging by institutionals. No amount of dreaming can help us with that.

Dream on.