I've read so many opinions on this board and others, plus asked questions of friends, my CFP, read stuff in Google etc, and still can't come to a solid conclusion what effect the MM's have.

Many years ago, re: ESSE (Earth Search Sciences) Chairman/CEO/Pres, Larry Vance asked the stock holders to convert their shares to certificates to "get out from under control of the MM's manipulating our PPS."

I had 30K at the time, did so via Prudential, and I still have them. I had bought the stock over several years, $23K invested, and after doing this, the company did a RS many years ago, leaving me with 1500 shares, now worth .016/share as of Oct 30th.

The RS had nothing to do with the MM's, the company was just in the toilet financially and still is today, far as I can tell. I don't even remember how long ago all this went down..I think some where between 2000-2003?? Don't remember.

I feel safer after this experience leaving everything I own held by a broker in street name, even though I can't see anything like this ever happening to EDIG. To me, paper certs are obsolete as an investment strategy...just my opinion.