"shorting stock has no effect on the company's ability to operate."

Which is not true. And aggressive shorts can and very much do play an impact on it. Not just shareholders. Have you been on the other side? Internal to a company preparing financial statements? Legal discussions about what to say and not to say? How to handle shorts and other aggressive investors? Securities class actions related to those statements? Stock drop class actions?

To imply that they have no ability to impact is again wrong. Most of the time no issue sure. But yes in some circumstances their actions can ruin a company.