You only need a couple grand to open a margin account and buy puts. A put isn’t technically a short but it has a very similar profit profile with lower risk.

But you’re right that timing is key.

You didn’t circumvent it by breaking the encryption, but I’d say you still circumvented it.

I tried to do a dual boot on my bf’s new laptop, he was li-curious, it ended up being such a hassle he just switched entirely. He prefers the Mac like interface on Wayland.