Greg, like you, I bemoan "the club" taking a hold of Bitcoin via the futures market, just like they have taken a hold of nearly all markets by manipulation.
I've made the comment on other boards before - "Is the best we can do is follow these peoples' coattails?" It is a disgusting feeling. But if we are forced to follow the futures market, then that is our fate.
However, Clif High has called the SEC market's attempt the "action of shooting themselves in both feet". We will see if that is true over the coming weeks and months.
Merry Christmas!