They could also all get together (a shareholder meeting) and vote in a board of directors who would then agree to disburse that capital to shareholders as divid

They could also all get together (a shareholder meeting) and vote in a board of directors who would then agree to disburse that capital to shareholders as dividends. It's not quite as direct as going to an ATM and taking out cash, but there are mechanisms for the shareholders to reclaim some of the 'locked-in' value.