RunningBear,
E*X*C*E*L*L*E*N*T post I should say. First of all, I like it when people do their own analysis. Second, I admire it when they share it with the rest. Now I know where you're coming from, and I can't disagree, and I don't think anyone would, bearing in mind that the trend is clearly bearish, so before talking about a reversal, we should at least see the market break above a major high. In our case, the S&P's year high at 1177.
P.S. Last Friday's "Hammer" formation indeed implies an upcoming rally !