The limiting Resistor R9 is only 5 ohm. I am not much concerned about the collector current, firstly coz the collector limit is 2A and secondly secondly as you said, due to the low gain at high current.
What is bothering me is the base current. When the base is pulled down, there is free path through the emitter-base junction (acting as a diode). Now there are two parallel paths.
1. Through emitter-collector-ground
2. Through emitter-base-ground
What ratio will flow in the two paths? The second path is acting simply as a diode. Will the gain formula still hold?
Taking the NPN analogy, the equivalent circuit should be as attached below.
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How do find the base current? Does the gain formula still hold. (Consider that the base-emitter is simply a diode, in parallel with another diode, ie, collector-emitter)