Not everyone. The options markets are much thinner than the stock market as a whole; it takes fewer people to move them. Also, it costs much less to buy an ou

Not everyone. The options markets are much thinner than the stock market as a whole; it takes fewer people to move them. Also, it costs much less to buy an out-of-the-money option than the value of the option. You can buy cheap insurance against catastrophe, and not unwind your main position. This leaves you protected against a crash while still able to make money on the upside.