Retail investors being blocked from buying while short sellers use ladder attacks to buy back shorts cheaper very much seems like a 'rigged market' though, no?

Retail investors being blocked from buying while short sellers use ladder attacks to buy back shorts cheaper very much seems like a 'rigged market' though, no? (Even if the move to block buyers wasn't orchestrated.) Granted, the big fish are just playing the game, but that doesn't mean it's just 'whining' to take serious issue with how it's played.