RE:RE:RE:Special Dividend I agree about DRIPs...it seemed like a good idea when I was younger - future dividends purchases fractional shares at a slight discount and you can 'forget about it'. This would work well for Canadian Banks but similar to you, I prefer being able to make adjustments to my investments in my Self-Directed accounts.
I assume that the 'share buyback' you mention being done in conjunction with DRIPs is that it's a way to mitigate the dilution that takes place with every dividend payment. Recent increased buybacks to me may be linked to the pandemic and the fact (for banks, for example) some companies could not increase dividend payments but wanted to somehow 'reward' shareholders.
Anyway, no Dripping for me. I prefer keeping everything at one Financial Institution and that I have full control over it and know full well what is the value of my account.