Well, I suppose it you are against shorting in principle then...

Well, I suppose it you are against shorting in principle then that's fair enough but it is meant to add liquidity to the market. Far better now than the bad old days of naked shorts.
Again, the beneficial holder is aware that the nominee can lend stock so I don't think it is as cloak and dagger that. Yes, they are trying to make a buck any which way they can and that is not necessarily a good thing but there is not a conspiracy against retail investors. I'm just going to hold my shares until CHN lays another golden egg...