So what is it -- Aspire was a terrible choice for financing because THEY, and not Mako and the other short-sellers, are responsible for the share price decline; or, Leo should have gone back to Aspire for financing instead of the new deal?

You can't have it both ways.

I also want to remind people that now that ONE non-Aspire entity has entered into a financing agreement, it is a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for other similar entities to want to enter an agreement.