many stocks that are in the news have terrible spreads on ecns because they are particualry active only on the day after report; adi wasnt bad at all but that's not always the case...also u often dont get any execution @arca/island [as far as my experience goes].
if you dont like how the specialist plays, then go play somewhere else. sure sure, i get pissed at scummy fills but if you get fooled more than twice, it is your own fault for not adapting to environment or simply saying no.
it's no question of bein' fooled...u just dont get filled if u are on the right side of a hot stock; only option is ecns but as i said u dont always get filled due to huge numbers of traders in your exact same position fightin' for liquidity...so what on earth should u do to "adapt to environment"? R0R
absurd, am after imbalances and gaps are what i usually trade....i cant see why i should give up nyse stocks cuz of difficulties, what the spec and his clerck do is unfair and me thinks also illegal and i have every right to complain about it. still, i got filled afterall didnt i.