Elstock..you write re. institutional buyers,
"That is the advantage longs have over traders."
The same can be said when institutions sell: "that is the advantage SHORTS have over traders"
Therefore(IMO) shorts and longs are both left to the whims of institutional buying and selling and therefore are MORE at their whims like the reed blowing in the wind all the time..I'd rather take less chances and make brief trades, staying indoors most of the time by the fire ;-)
Cheers!