I suspect the reason the clans buy up partyhats is because they then sell it for about the same value of what they bought it, plus an item like 3rd age or a few opulent tables, so they basically buy purple/yellows up to be able to get basically free opulent tables or 3rd age (not much 3rd age was traded this time though). Anyways, I sold my yellow for cash + 7 opulent tables, so I'm happy :) And from looking at the forums, it looks like they're back to crashing.