the problems with options: -out of the money options are impossible for most people to accurately value. -deep in the money contracts often do not provide any more leverage than futures. -combination strategies are far too expensive in commissions and spreads -SSF's do what most small speculators want options to do, which is provide a simple leveraged proxy for the stock.
the small time speculator who wants to make a simple directional bet is better off using e-mini's or SSF's.
I agree with dotslashfuture. Particularly SSF's, to be specific. e-mini's are a completely different thing again. But both certainly a lot safer than options traded by somebody who's not a wizard already. I wouldn't say you can't make money with options. That's trash. I know ppl who make good money with options alone. I myself occassionally use options to hedge for longer-term (1+ days) positions - Great thing if you know how. Not too hard to learn, either. However, solely trading options is a scary thought for me. Makes e-mini trading feel like picking strawberries. The bid/ask spreads etc - Maybe I'll start doing that when I'm good enough - In another 25 years or so Good Luck(!) ~The Scientist