2 things Pumpers are lost on.
Shorts could care less about that .05, as it will drop that much. It's a wash. Secondly it's not all of the same shorts from $1.50 as you suspect. This dog can never hold a high, and a smart short can make more than you, by playing the top of a run, and then letting it drop back, and covering the short. And it does this, time after time after time. How's the dude doing who shorted in the mid $2.90's ? Think.
Sentiment: Hold