90% of small traders fail. So fucking what? I could have told you that twenty years ago. Congrats to the Op for working that one out. & here's some news for you. HFTs are the new small traders. Less than 10% of them, like small traders, make significantly positive returns. 90% of them blow out. Feel free to blow your account by paying a second rate IT consultant to set up a HFT, or paying a "3rd party educational vendor". Either, or... I'm so bored with HFTs. Can we please move on to the next fad?
I would think HFT firms would mostly be bust within a few years. Take a flash crash. Is anyone actually saying that an HFT firm didn't go long in huge size 1 microsecond before the flash crash last year? That firm would have been blown away.
I think it is fairly well known that most established HFT firms did well during the flash crash. Some reporting their biggest days ever. At least the ones that kept their computers on (Tradeworx being an example of one that did not, and I believe they have stated it was their worst day in their history for that reason (i.e. took the hit on the way down, but didn't reap huge profits on the ride up cause their algos were turned off)).
Its a good thing most ET traders on here don't listen to "know it all" ppl like you... Your repetitive rant: "90% of traders lose, they just lose!" You obviously have an obsessive compulsive disorder. Please go see your nearest psychiatrist, your insurance should cover it.