[smileysteve]

Shorting is very arguably more complicated than put options; Key factors are dividends, float, and short interest.

From a brokerage house perspective, it's a whole other marketplace to set up (brokers willing to back your interest)

[webninja]

Fair points but at least you don’t have to worry about changes in implied volatility (Vega) when shorting. You can buy a put option right before an earnings report and watch it’s implied volatility drop like a rock after the earnings report is released. This can remove any profit you would’ve made pretty straightforwardly with a short. Not to mention you also have to pay Theta (time-decay value) all while holding the put option.