Here is my take.
You wanted to buy at 17.10. An algo saw your bid, and decided to enter their own at 17.1001. Fast forward until someone wanted to sell at the posted NBBO (17.10), they were given a "price improvement" for the sub penny bid the algo placed.
The problem is with the system. Not HFT. HFT is simply taking advantage of what the system is offering. You can't blame the trader for doing something that is completely legal.
You wanted to buy at 17.10. An algo saw your bid, and decided to enter their own at 17.1001. Fast forward until someone wanted to sell at the posted NBBO (17.10), they were given a "price improvement" for the sub penny bid the algo placed.
The problem is with the system. Not HFT. HFT is simply taking advantage of what the system is offering. You can't blame the trader for doing something that is completely legal.