The number of eyes watching Bitcoin from all over the world now will trigger some press about the Bitcoin market being cornered and a bucket shop etc. making Bitcoin look like a pump and dump.
If such a story gets in the press with quotes from economists, it will be a fast death!
So if there is "a few" controlling everything, their lust for cheap coins puts the whole project at risk!
I think you have a nice conclusion with the wrong statements...
the manipulators want price to go up. This selloff was natural, many people sold small chunks, thats normal at this level. I mean... its time for many people to begin taking profits.
the manipulation was buying all the way up to $69 at market price, that was stupid manipulation and if this gets noticed by media, it will be a complete fail for everyone.