Yep, the question now is: sell-off, or pullback? Could this not be the requisite 15-handle p/b (or a few more to tag the MA's) before it's back to the GS playbook?
... which would fall nicely in line with apex's post-NFP week strategy posted the other day by volente.
(Re: your earlier question, I was trading equities in '04. No puking though. :) )
I think it's probably an issue of scale. They give cnbc and "tourists" just enough access to keep the public interested in the game, so that they continue to provide the fuel for their profits.
On a positive note, the last time we had an intra-day range over 20pts was Dec. 4th, the last jobs report. Dec. 3rd's range was 19.50, so things could heat up a bit in the next couple of days.