Yes you could, but the point is that HFTs don't create any new problems that need solving. They don't make anything worse.
> and it would save them billions per year.
This is not true.
> and it would save them billions per year.
This is not true.
HFTs do not take a cut out of the market, their cut comes 100% from other market makers. Those are the only folks who would benefit from eliminating HFTs, and unless you’re one of them, who cares?
I don’t care who buys when I am liquidating a position. That’s the whole point of a market. Therefore I don’t care about HFTs.