Shorting is risky and dangerous but holding your coins on a bearish market is even more risky. In fact the whole crypto investing is risky.. Shorting your coins help you to save the value of your coins if you are doing it smart.
Big risk, big profit, that's the law. You are right, the risk can be reduced by good analytical techniques and strategies. If we understand some indicators to analyze price movements so that we get the right position and timing, it's a gift.