I appreciate the detailed response. If manipulators were in control from the beginning, they would never allow the stock to run to ~$5. Some would say they were forced to cover on the way up. If that was the case, they would've lost millions of dollars. Why lose that much money if they never have to cover (Alan's claim, not mine)?

I'll ask FINRA whether the short volume data from 2010-2011 are still available. That was when the stock was very thinly traded and I was accounted for the whole day's volume sometimes. I still have those shares from 6-7 years ago so I know when I bought them. If the file shows 100% were short volume on the day I bought 100% of the shares, then I have another proof that interpreting it as short sales is misleading.