Brokers buy the shares as a courtesy to give investors a tax loss. Not sure if discount brokers do this. These investors might not be able to get the tax loss.
People doing short term trading. It is the same as the Robin Hood stockholders investing in Hertz. Everyone knows that these stocks are worthless, hoping to make money until someone is left holding the bag.
I don't think that he was disparaging Elio for being a roofer. Elio was never qualified to start up an automotive company. He was a good huckster, nothing more.