Is it possible that you didn't fly because you were on the bus, and you'll have the chance to fly once you get off? So, regretting that you could have made millions or tens of millions if you hadn't sold is pointless. There are definitely very few individual shares out there. If you're "getting paid" as an alpha trader, holding this and that, how will you "eat"? The idea is to buy and sell. Contracts are even more so. If a bunch of people buy the bottom contract, do you think it will explode before rising?