The purpose of the shorts/hedge funds is two-fold: to make money pumping and dumping (especially via naked shorting at highs), and to discourage investors into selling at a loss during a news lull, or to sell if they achieve something close to break-even on a run up.

They've succeeded in Part 1. I think most people would probably be at break-even or slightly profitable between 1 and 2 but that's just based on what various people have posted.